Klarinet Archive - Posting 001360.txt from 1998/04

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: AFM, ICSOM & ROPA position on auditions for orchestras
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 19:29:19 -0400

I just spoke with Nathan Kahn of the AFM who is responsible for audition
related issues.

He gave me a bunch of very interesting information.

1. In 1987, AFM, ICSOM and ROPA all adopted a resolution
encouraging all orchestras ***not to deny anyone a live
audition based either upon a written resume or a tape.***

2. If you are having trouble getting into an audition, Nathan
mans a HOTLINE at 719-520-3288 and he is happy to help you.
He has helped hundreds of musicians get into auditions. He
suggests that you first try to be aggressive yourself, speak
with the personnel manager, have your teacher call etc...,
but he will gladly add his voice to your team. And most of
the personnel managers in the country know him on a first-
name basis!

3. Nathan has written an interesting article in the International
Musician in 1992 which discusses several cases where musicians
were initially denied auditions based on paper resumes but
somehow forced themselves into the auditions and subsequently
won the job! I have not seen the article, but he summarized
it for me on the phone.

4. Nathan has had conversations with management folk at the Chicago
Symphony and they relate that allowing all comers to audition is
critical to maintaining their artistic quality. This sounds
very similar to what Larry Liberson was saying.

5. Nathan encourages players to complain and complain loudly if
they are excluded from an audition.

6. Because each orchestra negotiates its contract with its union
local, there is no way at present for the AFM to dictate to the
orchestras what they must do on their audition procedures, but
each contract does have a "Code of Ethical Audition Practices".

7. I asked him to explain to me the Boston Symphony procedure, and
it is a bit different from what the BSO personnel manager
related to
me on the phone. First, you send in a resume. If they are suspect
of your resume, they will ask for a tape. If they are still
suspect of your tape, they will ask for letters of recommendation.
Once these are recieved, they will grant you a live audition.

8. Nathan agreed that there was no financial impediment to hearing
all comers. He said the problem was the attitudes of certain
Music Directors, and certain orchestra members who think they
can find the best players without listening to all comers.

--------------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net

   
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