 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ajhogan
Date: 2008-04-15 01:30
From three different reliable sources, as I am told, Ricardo Morales has turned down the Principal Clarinet position with the Chicago Symphony. Speculation is that his life being already rooted in Philadelphia, he was less inclined to move.
Austin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevesklar
Date: 2008-04-15 02:26
I guess its always good to keep your "interviewing" skills up to date
So what do they do now. Offer it to the #2 auditioner or keep looking ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2008-04-15 03:10
If this rumor is true (I have my doubts) ... I wonder - does that mean he truly prefers Philadelphia, or perhaps he's eyeing New York instead?
As for being "rooted" - I call bollocks. Were he truly "rooted", he would have never auditioned in the first place.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2008-04-15 03:22
JessKateDD wrote:
> As for being "rooted" - I call bollocks. Were he truly "rooted", he would have never auditioned in the first place.
I dunno... maybe he just wanted to get out of town for a while, see how he did compared to the others around there. Or maybe it was an "I don't know if I'd want to move... I'll think about it... in the meantime it doesn't hurt to audition" situation.
People do change their minds, after all.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ajhogan
Date: 2008-04-15 06:02
J. Lawrie Bloom said they will start the entire audition process over again.
Austin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2008-04-15 09:52
Not a chance,Blummy, Two Rico artists in Chicago would be too much.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2008-04-15 13:11
My money is on the "eyeing New York instead" theory.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next round of auditions. I wonder if any of those incredible players who "weren't qualified" before will suddenly become "qualified".
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-04-15 14:50
dgclarinet, It was never a matter of those others not being qualified enough; many of those that did not make the cut the first time are fantastic players. It's a matter of what the committee and conductor are looking for and comparing them to someone else, if that case, Morales, a truly incredible player, yes I'm prejudice. The person that gets the offer the next time will most likely be one of those already eliminated before because now they're auditioning against all those other fantastic players, but not Morales, he is an exception. When you take to top candidate out of the mix, everyone else now becomes eligible to be the top player. I wish them all the best of luck but there will only be one winner. Been there before, both winner and loser, most of us have. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-15 15:18
Groups have things that they look for and no way to know exactly what that is. Even Ricardo has been on the loosing side of Auditions (3 big ones way back). For him it probably wasn't a matter of go back and practice harder, or get it better, it was finding the right fit. One of those (non principal job) even were intimidated by his playing - told to me by the Principal player.
(compared it to Heifetz auditioning for a section job). Sometimes you can even win the audition, but not get the job for being too young. Michael Russinek won the Toronto 2nd Clarinet audition beating 2 Vancouver Sym. members (you play with one now Ed) when he was only 16 or 17 and they told him after winning the audition "go to Curtis and then get a Principal Job".
Principal Trumpet NYPO Phil Smith never made any Summer Music Festivals that he auditioned for. Ironically, when Phil made the Chicago Symphony as a Senior at Juilliard, he was given a hard time and almost didn't graduate as they said that he didn't have "enough Juilliard Orchestra credits".
Crazy but true.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2008-04-15 15:23
Ed, I definitely see what you mean. But, it does seem a little bit odd that they would find that only Morales was qualified before, but several months later, they're going to find somebody who wasn't qualified then, is now. I understand it's all semantics, but it makes the clarinet bulletin board a little more exciting if nothing else. At least we're not discussing whether to use bore oil or not.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2008-04-15 16:16
Why doesn't the CSO just promote John Bruce-Yeh, Gregory Smith or J. L. Bloom and save us all the speculative angst. Either would do just fine and would satisfy the musical "ears" of most of the CSO's paying public. As far as I am concerned, clarinetting doesn't get much better than whose already there.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2008-04-15 17:15
Maybe Greg Smith and John Bruce Yeh are not interested in moving to Principal..there is alot of pressure...however I would think John Bruce Yeh the logical choice..he is very musical and extremely flexibile playing wise.
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-04-15 18:21
dg, You’re right; this is a good topic to discuss on the board. I think the term “qualified” is the key word being used. Of course many of the others that were disqualified were and are “qualified” players. I think a better term would be not accepted, as opposed to “unacceptable”. James Chambers, a former principal horn of the NY Phil when I was a student told our wind class that he took twenty auditions before landing the principal job. That never meant he was not qualified, it meant he just didn’t make the cut at those times. This is not a business for the soft at heart; it’s tough out there. When I was on the audition circuit I would be runner up on one and not even make the first cut on another. Sometimes it was obvious why, other times I just could not understand why. At least these other players all have a good job to go back to, because none of them are “unqualified” and there can be only one winner. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2008-04-15 18:40
I have it confirmed from a confidential source within the CSO organization:
(permission has been given to post)
"Ricardo Morales has made his final decision by signing with Philly and that
new auditions will be held all the way from the beginning once again."
...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-04-15 20:13
It seemed clear, at least to me, that CSO had a short list of players they were interested in, plus the couple of players who made the finals, and that after hearing Ricardo Morales, he was the only one they wanted and no one else.
It is also not surprising they are starting over, it is to their advantage to hear everybody again, you never know who might be interested now that Mr. Morales is not in the running anymore. Maybe Michael Rusinek will audition this time around...
I feel however for the current clarinet section. I think a few decades ago, the principal was often picked by the musical director from the already existing section or directly recruited. Isn't it how Drucker got the job?
The "fair" screened audition process is sometimes a bit of a smoke screen. In the case of the CSO, they could have just talked to Morales and asked him to join? That would have saved a lot of people time, money and prevent a lot of stress.
I like the idea of the screened open audition, I just wonder how fair and effective this process is in practice.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-15 20:30
Union rules have to be followed. So nobody really gets anything these days on reputation.
Few players have a sound like he does. I'd say nobody does, but couldn't make such a general statement though I personally haven't heard one. So an Orchestra if they like that sound can exclude others based on it, or on his technique which pretty much isn't matched either.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fantasmacantos
Date: 2008-04-15 23:19
Both John Yeh and Greg Smith were in the CSO finals, so I think both will be again. Just for the two guys who mentioned them here.
Ivan M
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: patrickryan04
Date: 2008-04-15 23:24
In my opinion John Yeh has a very bright sound on soprano, also the few solo recordings I have of his demonstrate a very agressive playing style. Has any one else noticed this? What are some other opinions of Mr. Yeh's playing.
1st Armored Division Band
Clarinetist
Dixie Band
Woodwind Quintet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2008-04-16 01:40
I take it there's no problem that people took the audition seriously and the guy wasted all their time.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-04-16 01:49
None as far as the CSO is concerned. Those who made the finals should expect to do so again, and some who did not make it (and will reapply) will redouble their efforts.
Those who probably felt their time and money were wasted are probably not in the running. (just a thought?)
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2008-04-16 15:00
"In my opinion John Yeh has a very bright sound on soprano, also the few solo recordings I have of his demonstrate a very agressive playing style. Has any one else noticed this? "
So, what is the problem?? As an orchestral principal, you need to be agressive (confident) and a brighter sound projects more easily (especially when the CSO brass join in). I have heard John play as a soloist on numerous occassions and he never fails to impress with his sound (which to my ear is quite beautiful and always in tune), his impeccable techique and the fact he most often plays everthing from memory. IMHO, he would be able to handle any "pressure" situation the CSO principal chair would present with dignity, artistry and ease--and, as current CSO Associate Principal, he deserves the promotion.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-04-16 16:08
Yet I doubt he will get the job.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Scotti
Date: 2008-04-16 16:12
"and, as current CSO Associate Principal, he deserves the promotion."
No, that's just not how it works.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
