 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-20 00:59
I am hoping to one day play in a professional orchestra, and I have a question for people who already do so AND for people who may have sat on audition panels.
What aspects of ones playing will the panel focus on the most? I know that you have to be GOOD in all areas of your playing, but are there any that will be noticed more than others?
Thank you for your time and help.
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2003-12-20 08:12
All of the right notes (to a degree of perhaps 99% accuracy)
All of the right rhythms
In Tune
In the right style (tonal sonority amongst which is included in this vast category)
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After one displays an accomplishment of these 4 fundamental skills (under pressure) to a majority of the orchestra committee members, they will be admitted to the final round(s) to display their flexibility and imagination...many times via specific requests from the conductor or by any member of the audition committee....keeping in mind that the candidate continues to retain the 4 fundamental skills mentioned above.
Depending on the orchestra's contract regarding audition proceedures, the conductor may select from those candidates that have received a majority of yes votes from the 8 or so committee members, or in some cases the conductor uses the committee vote as simply an advisory, going ahead and selecting from any of the finalists.
After this, one may perhaps be offered a probationary contract with the orchestra in order that the conductor and the members may evaluate the clarinetist's ensemble skills over a period of perhaps 1 - 2 years during the playing of all types of repertoire.
Having listened to hundreds of orchestral auditions in many different locales, one common theme seems to be that the candidate's solo offering may perhaps be very good while in contrast, the first orchestral extract or two will eliminate them from contention completely.
Many times, depending on the circumstances, getting the job is the easiest part. Keeping the job during the tenure period is the difficult part.
After having said all of this, and if this weren't enough, it all depends on who's listening to you. Sometimes the job just finds you.
Gregory Smith
Post Edited (2003-12-20 08:21)
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Author: vin
Date: 2003-12-20 22:28
I was on a committee for a regional orchestra audition recently and sadly enough, the choice was very clear. The winner was the only person not to rush the 8th notes in midsummer night's dream and play the correct rhythms in the first mvt. of Beethoven 6. The winner did many other things well and I was happy with the ultimate choice, however, the general lack of rhythm among all the other auditionees was shocking, regional orchestra aside.
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-21 01:09
Ok, so I need to do 2 things.
1. Start using my metronome a lot more
2. Stop getting so nervous at auditions so I don't rush. ( I don't know what it is with auditions and exams; I love performing, on the morning of a performance I'll wake up thinking "Cool, I've got a concert today", but with auditions, I'll wake up thinking "Oh, no, I've got an audition today, I'm going to DIE".
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-21 01:20
Yes... tone. Mine is good normally, but I have GOT to learn to stop clamping down on the reed when I get nervous. ( This used to be a bad habit of mine, and noone bothered to point it out to me until last year when my teacher pointed it out to me and mostly got rid of it)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-21 09:06
....and I thought my grade school band tryout was tough!
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-12-22 01:49
It's kind of funny that right notes and rhythm are even on the list. They're kind of a given.
One time a college teacher (not my own) told me that at auditions you have to play the Mozart Concerto with perfect rhythm. It's like "well, I was just going to make up the rhythms as I go along, but now that you mention it...." I guess I'm just a sarcastic person, but I would assume that anyone who takes an audition with a major symphony would already have the notes and rhythms taken care of...
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-22 04:57
Don,
Perhaps they meant more for the sightreading of orchestral excerpts. Of course you are expected to know your particular audition piece like the back of your own hand, but I would be prone to messing up an unfamiliar piece put in front of me.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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