Klarinet Archive - Posting 001200.txt from 1998/04

From: "Craig E. Countryman" <cegc@-----.net>
Subj: Re: The right to audition
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 21:06:32 -0400

Having listened intently to this discussion I find the below statement very
hard to believe.

"Certainly one must expect that out of a pool of 200 - 300 candidates MOST are
not qualified to fill a position in a major symphony orchestra."

After all, realizing the costs to go to an audition, the time to prepare, and
the fact that most of these musicians have a great deal of schooling and feel
they deserve the position, why would those who go not be qualified?? Why would
that many people waste their time? They may not all be virtuositic players,
but I believe that the majority could probably do the job. The auditioning
committee are interested in finding the most qualified and that is where the
process really begins. Certainly there will be some that are unqualified, but
I doubt that most are unqualified. If we cannot get 200-300 qualified
clarinetists to apply for a major position then how do we have enough to teach
at our universities, make solo appearances, etc, etc.

It just seems to be a gross overstatement, and I thought I would point out my
view on the subject and see what some of you thought.

-----------------------------------------------------
Craig Countryman
cegc@-----.net
www.sneezy.org/clarinet/YPP/Craig.html
Present Project: Weber's Concertino, Op.26
-----------------------------------------------------