 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: reedmaniac
Date: 2004-09-21 02:18
Anyone care to comment on this one.... http://www.newhavensymphony.com/orchestra_roster.htm#woodwind
Is this considered a step down or up?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-09-21 02:38
Sounds like a pretty good gig to me...
Copland: Lincoln Portrait, narrated by Charles Osgood
Beethoven: Symphony no. 5
Haydn: The Creation (oratorio)
Copland: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, (with Gershwin as soloist on a piano roll)
Dvorak: Symphony no. 9 (From the New World)
Johann Strauss: Die Fledermaus (popular highlights)
Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (orchestral suite)
Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet (highlights)
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess (orchestral suite)
Mahler: Symphony no. 5
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Complete Incidental Music)
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Ben
Date: 2004-09-21 03:13
Will he still be directing Chamber Music at Lincoln Center, too?
I have heard that he was sometimes not at Yale very much for his students; perhaps he now will be.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-21 04:28
He left the Lincoln Center Position recently.
Here's a link to who is going to replace him:
http://www.chambermusicsociety.org/about/whats_happening/ArtisticDirectorsAnnounce.php
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-09-21 11:59
I would think that it would be a nice gig for him. He is local, he teaches right there at Yale, it is a decent orchestra, it would give him an opportunity to do some orchestral playing again. Why not? Playing is playing.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-21 12:39
He just got the position by audition
On September 11th
Principal Clarinet Saturday, September 11, 2004
Position awarded to David Shifrin.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2004-09-21 16:03
"audition"
I wonder how fair it was...
Anyways, good for New Haven and Yale. They'll have amonster player and hopefully a good educator.
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Dmitri
Date: 2004-09-21 17:13
Long way from the Cleveland Orchestra to the New Haven Symphony. Albeit, I wish I were up there and able to hear him on a regular basis.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2004-09-21 17:28
No it doesn't.
As far as I am concerned he can take any position anywhere.
I'm just amused by the "blind" audition process in general.
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-09-21 17:57
Speaking of David Shifrin and "lesser" orchestras...
About 15 or 16 years ago I heard him play the Mozart Concerto with a small orchestra in Columbus, OH. I really can't remember the name of the orchestra. Shifrin's playing was, of course, phenomenal. The thing to note was the 3-member viola section. At one point all three of them were looking puzzled and looked like they were trying to find their place in the music. Suddenly, one of them pointed with his bow, and all three of them merrily returned to playing...
Katrina
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Author: pzaur
Date: 2004-09-21 20:13
Katrina wrote:
> At one point all three of them were looking puzzled
> and looked like they were trying to find their place in the
> music. Suddenly, one of them pointed with his bow, and all
> three of them merrily returned to playing...
>
I guess it's true then that the violists are always a measure behind...
LOL!
-pat
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2004-09-21 20:56
I just recently found about Shifrin's new job from my teacher, who was pretty befuddled. There are undoubtly many more musicians who would have much more needed the position than Shifrin does.
But it is my assumption that Shifrin probably just misses the experience of orchestral playing on a regular basis, but as a Chamber Music Society artist and his post at Yale University, he doesn't have the time to put in a huge effort for a run at a job in a major orchestra.
And BTW - yes, Shifrin did indeed recently step down as artistic director at the CMS. His position has been co-succeeded by cellist David Finckel and his wife the pianist Wu Han. They're two wonderful people whom I had the pleasure to meet in the Rose building offices last week and I'm sure the CMS is in good hands.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-09-21 21:25
David Shifrin has taken a number of orchestra positions but stayed with them for only a short time. He's a very big frog in a small pond. Let's see.
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2004-09-21 22:26
As a former student of Mr. Shifrin, I have to say that I was really surprised to hear that he was going to play in the New Haven Symphony. Another of his students explained to me that he simply missed the orchestral repertoire and wanted to play in an orchestra again. I think it's pretty cool! He must have quite a bit more time since stepping down from Lincoln Center. I understand that he has been much more regular with his teaching schedule at Yale since then.
FWIW, the New Haven Symphony, surprisingly enough, is the fourth oldest orchestra in the country. I've heard them play and they are good - the best full-size orchestra in CT, with the possible exception of Hartford. Even though it's not nearly a full-time job, the New Haven Sympyhony is still a tough gig to get for wind and brass players because it falls within commuting range of New York City. There are also a lot of good freelancers in Connecticut thanks to the Cost Gaurd Band, Yale, the Hartt School of Music, etc. As I recall, there were over forty applicants for the position when I auditioned about four years ago. They held two DAYS of auditions when they had the same vacancy again in 2002!
Post Edited (2004-09-21 22:33)
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2004-09-22 00:34
I spent several years playing in a community orchestra - several of our players were retired members of major orchestras. Sometimes they just want to get back to playing good literature again without the hassles of being in a full-time orchestra anymore. As a young musician, having these seasoned pros around was a tremendous opportunity for me to learn. The other clarinetist (we rotated chairs) was a retired symphony player. He taught me a great deal about the literature that cannot be gleaned simply by studying scores and listening to recordings.
As for the New Haven audition - I assume Shifrin was invited straight to the finals. In the final round the screens come down. That is because at that point in the audition, reputation is as important as how you play the notes on that particular day. If I were on a panel, I would certainly give the nod to someone who played principal in Cleveland day in and day out and has had a remarkable solo career since over someone who just came out of a conservatory, even if the younger player did a little better on that given day. The audition was Shifrin's to lose, and apparently he played well enough to win.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-09-22 00:50
JessKateDD wrote:
> If I were on a panel, I would certainly give
> the nod to someone who played principal in Cleveland day in and
> day out
That wouldn't be Schifrin, though, would it? Frank Cohen has had that position since 1976.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-09-22 00:57
" Even though it's not nearly a full-time job, the New Haven Sympyhony is still a tough gig to get for wind and brass players because it falls within commuting range of New York City."
I am probably forgetting a few names, but over the years some of the principal clarinetists there have included David Krakauer, Tom Hill, Paul Green, Dan Gilbert, Igor Begelman, Dan Spitzer and now Shifrin. Quite a respectable lot.
Post Edited (2004-10-02 01:02)
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2004-09-22 01:10
Mr. Shifrin was once the principal clarinetist in Cleveland - after Marcellus and before Cohen. My statement was in the past tense, plus I mentioned his solo career since leaving Cleveland. How was my comment inaccurate?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-09-22 01:31
JessKateDD wrote:
> Mr. Shifrin was once the principal clarinetist in Cleveland -
> after Marcellus and before Cohen. My statement was in the past
> tense, plus I mentioned his solo career since leaving
> Cleveland. How was my comment inaccurate?
You're right. I forgot about the couple of years he spent with Cleveland.
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Author: ken
Date: 2004-09-22 04:19
Shifrin as Principal in the New Haven Symphony loosely reminds of when I dabbled in the world of showing dogs (Labradors). In the situation when any dog ascended the ranks earning champion status, the owner as a rule and gesture of good will and sportsmanship NEVER re-entered their dog in same-breed lower level categories. Doing so would be sending in a ringer and unfair advantage to owners and handlers working their way up the competitive ladder (it IS done by some).
As for winning the audition, there's NO argument from me. It's still a free market but I can't help but think a case could be made by some bleeding heart that a world renowned classical clarinetist is taking advantage of minor orchestra circles; essentially hogging what is generally recognized by the industry as an entry-level position and portal to a major desk job.
So what DOES one say to a 600-pound Gorilla who walks in and sits in your chair while you weren't looking? Or, a scenerio comparable to one of us advanced players "horning" into the section of a youth orchestra and/or high school concert band and blowing everyone away just by warming up. Of course, the main difference in Mr. Shifrin's case is lives, careers and filled refrigerators are at stake. v/r Ken
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-22 12:55
It's like an Olympic Gold Medalist playing on a local sports team.
But it's his perogative. I'd like to teach at Yale, but he already took that one too....... (and yes, I did teach with their Dean (Ransom Wilson) at a music festival).
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2004-09-22 14:00
> But it's his perogative. I'd like to teach at Yale, but he
> already took that one too....... (and yes, I did teach with
> their Dean (Ransom Wilson) at a music festival).
Robert Blocker is the current Dean of the School of Music at Yale. He was preceded by Ezra Laderman and Frank Tirro and others, but not Ransom Wilson.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-22 14:26
Wilson is Professor of Flute at Yale - I thought he was the Dean of their Graduate Program but you (googled...) are right!
Post Edited (2004-09-22 15:25)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-09-22 15:55
New Haven orchestra is lucky to have him...he is one of the best phrasers ever!!
David Dow
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-09-22 16:22
If Lawrie Bloom wants my community orchestra bass clarinet gig, maybe he and I could arrange a job swap....................
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Author: pguy
Date: 2004-09-22 18:36
Mr. Shifrin appears to still be going solo. He's scheduled to do the Copeland Clarinet Concerto with the Detroit Symphony Oct. 21st - 24th.
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Author: Bradley Wong
Date: 2004-09-24 23:04
I studied with David at the University of Michigan in his first year there, 1976. During that year, there was an opening for principal in the Toledo Symphony, which he encouraged me to take. At my first lesson after the audition, he asked how things went. I told him I made the final round, and that I would be notified later of their decision. A few days later, I received a letter from Toledo, thanking me for my interest in their position, and notifying me that their new Principal Clarinetist was...David Shifrin. When I asked him about this in my next lesson, he replied, "Well, if I told you I was going to take the job, you wouldn't have gone to the audition."
I consider my year studying with David one of the most influential in my musical education. He is an amazing musician.
Brad Wong
Western Michigan University
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