Klarinet Archive - Posting 001386.txt from 1998/04

From: "Don Yungkurth" <clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: Re: auditions
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 00:28:13 -0400

Michael Whight said, in part:

>Subject: Re: auditions

>It seems to me that the major issue here is that the chances of the
>inexperienced players or experienced but unknown players in obtaining
>auditions should be protected.I agree entirely with this principle.However
>this somehow implies that there is a "best" clarinettist for a job. Who is
>to judge the criteria for such a judgement?

The answer is clearly that the employer, the one paying the salary, will
"judge the criteria for such a judgement". Some people may feel that
matters of artistic quality should be decided by less commercial means, but
the "best" clarinetist in an audition (whether real or make believe, with
the old boy network making the selection) will be the one satisfying the
criteria of the power structure paying the money.

Whatever their philosophy, however narrow their understanding, however the
audition committee was selected, whatever their prejudices, they are
calling the shots and it would behoove the applicant to play their game.
Finding out what they want and how they operate should be as high in
importance to the applicant as being able to play the required audition
material. If this means trying to get consideration outside the apparent
published rules for the audition, then you had better do just that. You do
want to be a professional clarinetist in an orchestra - right?

This is real life. It may not be the way many of us would prefer, but if
you want the job you will have to live with the ground rules (stated openly
or not) of the employer. I agree with Jonathan Cohler as to the way
auditions should be held, but I think it is naive to expect that it is
likely to happen.

Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)