Klarinet Archive - Posting 001221.txt from 1998/04

From: Dodgshun family <dodgshun@-----.nz>
Subj: Orchestra auditions
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 01:25:04 -0400

At 01:07 PM 20/04/98 -0400, you wrote:
>At 04:37 PM 4/17/98 -0400, David B. Niethamer wrote:
>>In an ideal world, we'd have two or three candidates spend a
>>month in the orchestra before we decided who worked out the best, and
>>then that person would have a year's "probation" before becoming
>>permanent. Few orchestras have that luxury.
>
>This strategy may actually save money, David.
>
>This is very close to what the Columbus Symphony is doing to fill its
>current Principal Timpanist opening. After the "finals" a year ago, they
>selected 5 or 6 of those remaining and asked them each to play three weeks
>in the 1997-98 subscription season. Yes, to follow an earlier train of
>thought, that means that each of those musicians had to travel to Columbus,
>Ohio, for the auditions and then three more times (they were not
>consecutive weeks) during this season.
>
>As I said, the orchestra may, in fact, be saving money with this "luxury."
>A reliable source told me that they are being paid as extras and have to
>pay their own travel and living expenses with that weekly pay. (Let me
>hasten to add that I see this as completely reasonable and good business.)
>This means that the orchestra is saving the difference between (1) the
>scale for an extra musician for the subscription concerts only and (2) the
>salary plus benefits of a principal player. (For the non-subscription
>concerts, the Assistant Prin. Timp. is playing.) This seems to be an
>excellent strategy for an orchestra with financial constraints. Also, in
>the case of the timpanist, where the ability to blend is critical, it gives
>the music director and the committee members a chance to hear the applicant
>play in the context of the orchestra rather than only in the solo context
>at an audition. The CSO will announce the winner in June. He or she will
>then begin the usual year's "probation" at the beginning of the next season.
>
>Mitch Bassman
>Burke, Virginia, USA
>mbassman@-----.com
>

That's exactly what was done here in Christchurch for the principal clarinet
job in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. They only had the final two who
auditioned play with the orchestra, and it worked very well. It became
obvious who was the better orchestral player, and she got the job.
We've actually had a huge controversy here over the CSO, because the general
manager decided that to lift the standard, they would establish a group of
"core players". Problem was, none of these positions were even advertised
here, even though there are people who are capable of holding the positions.
I probably should explain that the CSO works on a list system; you audition,
and if you're good enough you are contracted and placed on a call list.
They work down the list for each concert, so if you can't do a concert, the
next player gets called. This obviously doesn't apply to section principals
or associate principals - they are the core group. List players are paid by
the hour, and core players are on a salary. Anyway, the general manager
decided that importing players from the Ukraine was a good idea, because
they didn't have to be paid as much as locals. Sure, they play brilliantly,
but what about the concept of a regional orchestra? This raised huge
problems, and orchestra members who protested were sacked. So now we have
Russians as principal trumpet and trombone, principal and two associate
principal bassists, about half the second violins, principal cello plus one
more, associate concertmaster and 2 or 3 other first violins, principal oboe
and second clarinet (which means I get no more work). Seems a bit unfair to
me, because previously local youth orchestra players moved on into the CSO,
but certain sections can't anymore. And to cap it all off, the orchestra is
in financial difficulties, even though they are playing better than they
have for a while. I say get rid of the Russians and use local players, who
are perfectly capable. Any opinions?

Anna