 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet87
Date: 2005-06-14 01:50
My main goal in life is to get a job in a symphony orchestra, but everyone I've talked to says finding work as a professional musician is extremely difficult. It seems to me there are more orchestras over in Europe than in the U.S. My question is would it be easier to find a job in an orchestra in Europe rather than the U.S.? For me, to get into any orchestra would be a dream come true, but I know the chances are slim.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-06-14 17:48
During my college days in the late 1970's I was told that there were around 100 professional orchestras in West Germany alone. It sounds like Europe would be a place with a lot of financially stable groups.
But wouldn't that mean requipping with instruments more compatible to European tuning? It seems to me that you would probably need them for the audition itself. Another question for our European friends might be, whether a Boehm clarinetist has a chance in Oehler territory.
I was also told (around 25 years ago) that South America had a lot of demand for orchestral musicians. Does anyone know if this is still true, and how good are the groups/jobs?
What frightens me about the US is less the scarcity of jobs, than the financial health of our existing orchestras. I've seen 'professional' positions advertised that actually pay nothing, but come with the promise of many private students, or some kind of administrative job to fill out the pay.
Here is an idea that I would like to hear some comments on. Many pop bands seek success by relocating as a unit to an area where they have the chance to further themselves.
It seems to me that America has plenty of professional-quality players, who have been frustrated in their professional ambitions--particularly where symphony seats are concerned. It seems to me that it might profit such players to seek out others in the same boat with whom they might form some sort of performing group...a diverse group such as a wind quintet would probably serve these purposes best.
Work up a repertoire, hit the streets and get heard/recorded in any circumstances that are practical. Consider moving together where more work may be found. Either an area with more performing opportunities or perhaps a college that would be interested in you as a group for a graduate school fellowship or perhaps some sort of faculty positions.
It's easy to spin your wheels waiting for orchestra auditions, but some teamwork, enterprising, and creativity might begin to generate some varied circumstances which could end up feeding on each other. It might also be a real growing experience as you take personal responsibility for reaching and entertaining an audience.
Allen Cole
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2005-06-14 18:28
If you really want to try to get a job in Europe then I would recommend studying in Europe. Tastes differ and I've heard some famous American players who weren't at all appreciated by the European clarinet audience. (The same is probably true about European players in the USA?)
Most top jobs in Germany and Austria require that you play German system. All but one of the orchestras in Holland require that you play reform-Boehm (German bore). And of course the competition is very tough for orchestras using Boehm system. All the best!
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