Secret auditions

[Hank74]

I was curious as to how a secret audition takes place for an orchestral position. I've heard that a performer would play behind a screen. My question though is would that person's ID be revealed to the employers at any time, or does that depend on the situation?

[windshieldbug]

Practically, someone has to know who they are, or they'd never get called at the right time

-but-

On the audition committees that I've sat on, it's never revealed to the committee until after the audition. Sometimes it's quite a shock that someone you expected to get further didn't.

Normally, all the preliminary rounds I've been on the committee have been screened by contract, but obviously rounds where you play with the trombone section or play with the orchestra (if the job is big enough) are excepted.

[kontrabass]

Some orchestras will lower the screen after the first preliminary round.