 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2026-06-13 18:18
This topic has been discussed here before, but some recent experiences have prompted me to revisit it.
Before doing so, I should acknowledge my own biases. Although I am Caucasian, I generally support initiatives that expand opportunities for people of color to enter fields from which they have historically been excluded or underrepresented, whether due to socioeconomic barriers, racial discrimination, cultural factors, or other inequities. While society has made significant progress, I do not believe we have yet achieved a truly level playing field, and I think there is still work to be done.
At the same time, I recognize that efforts to increase representation can sometimes result in difficult tradeoffs. There may be instances in which a candidate who is equally qualified—or even more qualified—but who does not belong to an underrepresented group is passed over in favor of advancing broader diversity objectives. In such cases, the outcome may be unfair to that individual, often bearing no responsibility for the historical conditions those initiatives seek to address.
Where I draw the line is in fields where performance can be evaluated relatively objectively and where selecting the most capable candidates is essential to the mission of the institution. For example, few people question the fairness of the racial composition of professional basketball. Given the competitive and financial stakes involved, teams are expected to recruit and retain the best players available. The prevailing sentiment is that roster spots are earned through performance decisions only.
This brings me to the arts, and specifically to symphony orchestras. I strongly support programs that introduce more minority students to music, connect them with outstanding teachers, provide access to quality instruments, and help remove financial barriers that can prevent talented young musicians from pursuing serious study. If there are initiatives that effectively expand those opportunities, I would gladly take out my checkbook, and offer my time (and have) to support them.
However, when it comes to professional orchestral positions, I remain convinced that appointments should be based solely on musical excellence. The best players, regardless of race or ethnicity, should earn those positions, and blind auditions should remain a cornerstone of the selection process.
There are already examples of extraordinary African American musicians who have risen to the highest levels of the profession through their artistry and achievement. Among them are Anthony McGill, principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, Afendi Yusuf, principal clarinet of The Cleveland Orchestra, and Mr. McGill's brother Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Seattle Symphony.
I have no doubt that each occupies those roles because of exceptional talent and musicianship.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk
Date: 2026-06-13 21:23
SecondTry wrote:
> However, when it comes to professional orchestral positions, I
> remain convinced that appointments should be based solely on
> musical excellence. The best players, regardless of race or
> ethnicity, should earn those positions, and blind auditions
> should remain a cornerstone of the selection process.
>
> There are already examples of extraordinary African American
> musicians who have risen to the highest levels of the
> profession through their artistry and achievement. Among them
> are Anthony McGill, principal clarinet of the New York
> Philharmonic, Afendi Yusuf, principal clarinet of The Cleveland
> Orchestra, and Mr. McGill's brother Demarre McGill, principal
> flute of the Seattle Symphony.
>
> I have no doubt that each occupies those roles because of
> exceptional talent and musicianship.
>
I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, but I wonder what specifically brought it to mind now. Have you heard recently of specific situations that involved discriminatory orchestral hiring? This has been an issue forever in the performing arts. That there may be regression in fair hiring practices isn't really a problem specific to symphony orchestras. It has alarmed people in all kinds of hiring markets in recent years.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2026-06-14 01:16
>
> I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, but I wonder what
> specifically brought it to mind now.
It came about by my examination of the Sphinx National Alliance for Audition Support website and its recommended audition and tenure guidelines.
It's leading principal is that those who sign on to its principles, and there are quite a number of partner orchestras, believe that orchestras should reflect the racial makeup of the communities they serve and should in good faith pursue that goal.
Now don't get me wrong, that sounds great in principle, just as long as a the principal (note the double entendre on the principle/principal) of some instrumental section within the ensemble first and foremost can handle the repertoire before local (racially reflective of the community) talent is hired.
> That there may be regression in fair hiring practices isn't
> really a problem specific to symphony orchestras.
Affirmative action programs, which I generally support, have their limits in fields in which, as I originally wrote 1) talent is relatively easy to measure, and 2) the competitive need to hire the best mandates racial blindness. It's one thing for me to see some corporate training program seek higher levels of minority participation, and yet another for the NBA, where millions of dollars are at stake, to contract with anyone but the best players, or orchestras, many of which are already struggling, produce anything but the finest performances from the best talent their budgets will allow.
Before I'm labelled a bigot, I embrace everything organizations like Sphinx National Alliance for Audition Support do to get minorities not only into audition slots but make them competitive, but the nature of this work makes meritocracy IMHO, the only fair way to put the best players in seats on the performance stage.
Of course AI is apt to put all many of us out of work, as sure as it is to do so with complete racial blindness.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
