 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2015-04-11 17:51
This week the Baltimore Symphony had an audition for the assistant first and Eb chair being vacated by Chris Wolf after 52 years, a BSO record. A record previously held by the former 2nd clarinetist Gordon Miller. I came close with 50 years having retired last year but I did have one more year in the Halifax Symphony before coming to Baltimore, so 51 for me combined.
The repertoire list was made up by Steve Barta, the present principal clarinet but he was not allowed to be at the audition since he decided to retire after this season. His decision came after the list was sent out. I'm not sure exactly but he's been there for about 40 years. It's hard to get rid of us clarinet players.
So I was told that 90 applicants applied and 50 were accepted to audition but get this, only 14 showed up. My feeling, when I heard that, was that #1 it was a tough list and #2 people think you just pick up an Eb clarinet and it plays like a clarinet. Well yea, at a very low standard, so It's I'm thinking that most of them realized it was much more difficult to actually play the Eb well than they thought, surprise. That's why when I was a student, I not only learned all the clarinets but practiced all the excerpts as well so I was prepared to audition for any position I wanted right out of school. PS. Once I got my bass clarinet job I would never audition for an Eb job after that. :-) (Bass clarinet rocks, Eb squeaks.) :-)
So of the 14 that showed up three were moved to the finals, all the audiitions were behind a screen including the finals, that was only time the conductor was present along with the nine member committee and all three had to play something with the wind quintet, also behind the screen except for those players of course. So I don't know his name but the winner is a young man presently subbing on 2nd with the Houston Symphony having graduated from Oberlin and Rice University where I believe he studied with Richie Hawley. Since I received this info second hand, they don't let retires take part, that's all I know about him. Of course he'll have to have a trail week or two before it's official.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Titus
Date: 2015-04-12 04:54
Probably that Lin Ma guy, who won the asst. Forth Worth and Kansas City job as well. The man is on fire!
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-04-12 04:59
Thanks for sharing this Ed. You may have discussed this in the past, but I don't remember. During your years in the BSO, were you ever asked to play E-flat?
Post Edited (2015-04-12 05:01)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2015-04-12 05:26
David, Bill only had one vote, wouldn't have mattered much. There are eight others on the committee as well as the conductor. :-)
Titus, Yes, that was his name, Lin Ma. Impressive.
Clarinetguy, yes, on several occasions. Every time we did Mahler first the third and bass part switches to Eb. On a few occasions I "subbed" on Eb when there was no bass and several years ago we used to do a contemporary chamber orchestra series during a split orchestra week. If I was already playing on that program on bass or clarinet I would often double on Eb as well if both were not required at the same time. Loved the doubling pay. :-) I actually enjoyed playing Eb but much prefered bass and regular clarinet.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2015-04-13 12:31
"he'll have to have a trail week or two"
Would that be an "On the trail" in case they do need some bass from him? (lol)
Vanessa.
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2015-04-14 22:06
They only do Trail Weeks in the Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah Symphonies .
All other orchestras do trial weeks...
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