 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-07-09 21:02
Hi Friends,
Does anyone know anything about this audition? The position is advertised on musicalchairs, but the TSO website hasn't worked all week. I read enough when it was first posted to know I wanted to keep my eye on it, but never jotted the info down before the website went down.
So, anyone have an address to send resume, deposit amount (if any), audition date, application deadline, email address of personnel mgr., excerpt list?
Thanks for your help.
-Lori
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Author: Fontalvo
Date: 2007-07-09 22:59
Hey, write me offline and I'll forward all that information to you!!!!
rafaelfontalvo@hotmail.com
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Author: hartt
Date: 2007-07-11 05:16
......for those considering this audition, please know:
the TSO operates in the red and has done so for several years now
the salaries of the musicians have been reduced year after year. what a musician is earning now, is less than last year's pay. In fact, the salary for this year is less than the salary of 3 yrs ago.
In August, the TSO is renegotiating their contract with the Federation to provide less 'protection' for musicians.
musicians are paid according to 'tics'. A tic being a rehearsal, concert.....a number of tics for a rehearsal and
Over time, the rehearsals have been cut back and the seasons shortened.
The past several years have seen the elimination of numerous positions: receptionist, ticket sales. In fact, the Symphony Center bldg (offices/rehearsals) was, until 3 years ago, open Thursday evenings for 2 hrs. This was to provide a wkly rehearsal facility for a small non-profit classical music group. The TSO stopped this practice because of the two additional hours of the electrical usage in lighting.
I believe that currently there are 13 openings in the symphony....I know of one from retirement.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-07-11 16:56
well, doggone it! thanks for the heads up, hartt. slim pickins these days for clarinet auditions.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-07-11 17:28
The postition/audition information, including the repertoire requirements, is now available on the orchestra's website. Obviously, it is not a full-time position. The current "salary" is around $24,000 for the season (219 services) -- with contract negotiations in process, as Dennis pointed out. The position is advertised as a one-year "acting principal" position.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: diz
Date: 2007-07-12 21:56
$24,000 ... even for a part-time orchestra, that's insulting. Our print room lady earns more than that and she's got not qualifications whatsoever.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2007-07-12 23:44
$24,000 is higher than the starting teacher's salaries in half the states in the US. It could be good experience to start out a career. Even if the orchestra folds after a year, you'll have some experience on your resume.
Chris Hill
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2007-07-12 23:55
Wikipedia lists Tuscon's average per-capita income as $16,322 and the median household at $30,081. The Symphony job is very reasonable.
$24,000 for a part-time clarinet job in a 3rd tier symphony? I'll take it. As a musician, we don't have much to choose from and need to take whatever we can get. An orchestral job gives oppurtunity to supplementing the income - it leaves a good deal of hours not rehearsing/performing and also automatically makes you one of the go-to teachers in the area.
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2007-07-12 23:58
Diz, I understand where you're coming from, but does your print room lady work 219 days a year for 2-3 hours a day? $24,000 works out to over $40 an hour, which isn't too shabby. Also, I haven't researched housing costs, but I'm guessing that $24K goes a lot further in Arizona than it does in many other places in America.
As someone that played clarinet in a part-time symphony when I was much younger, I have to say that's it's really not such a bad deal. Local symphony players get their pick of students/teaching gigs at the highest going rate. Often, these gigs are in conjunction with a position at a local college or university. It's possible to make $40 to $50K a year and still have 4+ hours a day to practice.
Unfortunately, live music outside of the pop/rock genre is dying in the US. As I'm sure you already know, there are many more players than jobs, and the number of jobs is shrinking yearly. Overqualified musicians are lining up for even half-time gigs nowadays.
I agree that, in a perfect world, teachers and musicians should make as much as doctors and lawyers. In the real internet world, though, people seem to view music as something they can and should get piped into their homes for free . Unfortunately, I only see things getting worse for many career musicians, especially smaller symphony players.
OK, guys, I'll meet you all down at the corner. I'll bring a sax case (they hold more change).
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2007-07-13 05:02
All I have to say is that if Kevin's facts are correct, and someone can live on that much (plus income from other ensembles, teaching, etc.) in Tuscon, then it's fine. It's a sad little figure to our eyes that see economy cars going for almost that much, but at the end of the day I don't know any musicians doing this "for the money". I just want to be comfortable and actually get paid to be an orchestral clarinetist. Sorry if I step on any toes, since I usually seem to.
Bradley
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Author: donald
Date: 2007-07-13 20:23
"economy cars going for almost that much" ??????? the majority of my friends and colleagues own cars worth under $5,000 US$ and get along perfectly fine! My car (which cost me about $2,000 US four years ago) has driven over 100,000 km (often packed full of people and surfboards) and still passes the strict "warrant of fitness tests" we have in NZ.
But then, i grow my own vegetables and have a 20 year old TV set. I'd love a symphony job for $24,000 US$ but i'm picky- i couldn't live that far from the sea
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Author: hartt
Date: 2007-07-14 00:14
although it's only 5 pm here, maybe it's bedtime for this.
if you need to be by the sea, then you need not be here. San Diego is 375 miles west.
We have a sea of desert. The main vegitation is colored green: no, not lawns but cactus. Presently the cactus is being watered as it has shriviled and dying.
This is the third week where the temps are over 100 degrees. Evening Winters are sweatshirt time.
Don't think that just because of the position, students will be knocking your door as the go-to teacher. There are many clarinet teachers here; for all levels of proficiency.
There are no other ensembles here for pay purposes. Performances with the Wind Quintet of the TSO, is included in the salary. As is mandatory social engagements at fund raiser dinners, etc.
TSO is a 4th tier symphony. Phoenix is a third. The TSO is known as a Regional symphony.
Wikipedia may mention little or much but don' t think the cost of living here is low.
And yes, the TSO is a great stepping stone so to speak.
Several years ago, a clarinetist won the Denver job. More recently, a flutist went to Phoenix. There have been others.
regards
dennis
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Author: sherman
Date: 2007-07-14 01:50
Having looked over all of these postings concerning this orchestra, I find them disappointing. Not on a personal basis, but on the basis of having been "there" at one time, and knowing "it" was not a great orchestra.
If the temperature is 100 degrees, well, what are you about anyway? Aren't you about the clarinet? Haven't you worked very hard learning all of the orchestra parts, memorizing them, listening to everyone in the world play them? Haven't you criticized them all, either good or bad criticism? Don't you want music more than anything else in the world? Moreover, isn't the clarinet the thing that revolves around you all of the time?
If your response is "yes", well, go out and get that job!
Wow them, impress the s88t out of them. Make them want you by your startlingly good playing. Show them who you are.
After winning the job, you'll have all the time in the world to ask yourself all of the questions mentioned above.
But, remember this, there are no jobs to speak of "out there". The pickings are slimmer than they have ever been. (And there are more of us)So, get that job, and then and only then are you in a position to respond to all of the questions posed by those who didn't even bother to audition.
As youngsters years ago, we used to take every audition we could to play, anything at all, just to have another under your belt. Then, we'd drive to the next one. If we got the job or to the finals, fine, if not. swab....and drive.
If you've done your work and are blessed with talent, you will get that job, if not Tucson, then another.
Get that job!
Sherman Friedland
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2007-07-14 03:25
I agree with Sherman. Especially about the less jobs and more of us than ever bit. The pessimists think it's impossible to get a job but the optimist in me says that SOMEONE has to die or retire sooner or later (as sad as that sounds), and then SOMEONE has to take that job. Might as well be me right?
At least that's the way I think about it.
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Author: hartt
Date: 2007-07-14 05:02
My intention was not to be a pessismist.
On the contrary, Hanson puts together demanding and challenging programs. He promotes friendship within the orchestra and within sections. He actively conducts in Europe, was associated with the NY Phil and Atlanta Sym, and is a concert pianist.
It's hot here, humid in Florida and cold in Michigan....so what, just play the music.
dennis
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-07-14 06:28
Well said, Sherman. I believe anyone capable of winning this job has already decided that this is their career and will be likely to take it because they don't have anything better at this time.
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Author: diz
Date: 2007-07-17 01:42
It's probably unfair to compare the Tuscon orchestra with my own capital city orchestras as at least two of them are international standard (Sydney and Melbourne-which is older than most European broadcasting orchestras). So point taken, $24K may not be such a bad deal for a lower ranked orchestra in the middle of nowhere.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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