Klarinet Archive - Posting 000316.txt from 2004/04

From: "Bryan Crumpler" <crumpletox@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] RE: Competitions & Juries
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 19:30:30 -0400

Bryan Crumpler wrote,
>>...I've even had ridiculous comments like "you need
>>better clothes"

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
>It's hard to guess how that comment about clothes might have sounded, in
>context, without seeing how you looked compared to other contestants. Was
>it really a question of expensive, designer clothing vs. moderately-priced,
>off-the-rack wear? If so, then shame on the judges.

Sadly, it was... That particular day of the competition I was dressed in a
black calvin klein button down, no tie (as longneck ties and the top button
of my shirts tend to choke me and constrict my neck while playing), olive
colored slacks (cheap David Taylors), shiny black shoes, and my clarinet. So
it was business casual... Not concertwear, but nice enough to go to church
on Easter Sunday.

>Then again, I'm picturing a situation where most of the male contestants
>wear business suits while one guy shows up in shorts, flip-flop sandals and
>a t-shirt decorated with cartoon characters.
...
>Or, of course, the "wrong" clothes may just mean that the airline lost the
>luggage
>or that the contestant guessed wrong when trying to figure out
>badly-written contest guidelines.

We were explicitly told not to dress up for the preliminary & semi-final
rounds, and I thought my clothing was appropriate, as did all of the contest
officials to whom I showed my comment form. I wasn't the only person that
got this comment about clothing... But honestly, since you mention
comparison to the other contestants, all I really need to say about that is
"Singers". Dressed in sequin gowns, poofy shoulders, flowing dresses, and
big hair... I guess my modest business casual look wasn't as visually
stimulating... "in comparison"... hence the "You need better clothes"
comment.

>>...the point in question is whether it's appropriate
>>at an "international" competition to penalize someone for
>>his/her playing style as being too connected to that of a
>>different country or geographical area (i.e. "too European"
>>or "too American" or "too Asian" whatever the case may be).

>That sounds like a legitimate beef to me, though it's so surprising for a
>judge to stipulate to such a bias aloud that I wonder whether there's more
>to the story -- something that would justify or at least excuse such a
>comment.

I don't know how much the "too European" business factored into his
decision. I placed 3rd and won the Stage Deportment Award for most effective
performance and stage presence when it came down to the nitty gritty. But it
was just a comment that I heard from him at the reception... His words were
that my playing was "too European for the conservative world of American
classical music, and that I should probably move to Europe if I wanted to
continue pursuing a career as a soloist because they love that stuff" --
"stuff", I presume, refers to whatever qualities about my playing or
performance translates to "European". And I thought that comment was rather
thick to be made following an "international" competition. For all he knew,
I could have been living & performing in Europe already. And I was
performing a Spohr Concerto... not the Copland. The "too European" just
didn't seem relevant at that point.

Anyway, I only brought up the topic because one of the judges in another
competition I just did also mentioned that style was too European, which was
like deja-vu almost. Rep for that was Tomasi & Weber Concerti, and
Messager's Solo de Concours... As for the "too European" aspect, I still
don't see the relevance, which is why I'm disturbed myself that I would hear
such comments at an "international" competition.

Bryan

http://www.whosthatguy.com

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