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Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:37 pm
by tubaport
Good band, info at the following link (go to "audition letter and requirements" under the Tuba audition)

http://www.bands.af.mil/careers/" target="_blank

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 7:24 am
by ZMan
Did anyone win this?

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 7:36 am
by Douglas
I think Jacob Hilton was offered the job.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:02 am
by Timmm
Douglas wrote:I think Jacob Hilton was offered the job.
That is correct, Jacob Hilton was offered the job!

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:15 pm
by Copernicus
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Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:20 pm
by Watchman
Copernicus wrote:Anybody else hearing noise about this audition being a total inside job? Apparently many very talented players turned away, and then only one of ten invited advanced to finals... and audition panel was not happy with those they heard live...
You'll need to discuss this some place else.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:01 pm
by Copernicus
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Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:00 pm
by Timmm
Copernicus wrote:Anybody else hearing noise about this audition being a total inside job? Apparently many very talented players turned away, and then only one of ten invited advanced to finals... and audition panel was not happy with those they heard live...
Seems like a bit of an unwarranted conclusion to come to based on the reasons you listed.

1. Not saying this is the case but audition tapes, unfortunately, aren't always unedited. Sometimes the live rounds aren't what was expected.
2. They didn't hire anyone last time the audition was up. Maybe a lot of the same people were there? Not uncommon for the same people to take the same auditions when the first audition results in no hire.
3. Final round sizes vary pretty significantly in just about any audition. If the panel knows you aren't what they are looking for in the first round, that's not going to change in the final round.
4. The person that won the job doesn't know anyone in the band out there.

Generally speaking it's not just about being "very talented." Everyone invited to these is obviously very talented. An audition panel (at any audition) likely has a pretty specific idea of the sound/style they are looking for, and that changes from band to band/orchestra to orchestra. Not advancing or winning can really be as simple as not fitting their ideal sound, style, etc.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:05 pm
by Copernicus
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Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 1:25 pm
by Timmm
Copernicus wrote:Well, let's get one thing straight — I didn't draw any conclusions. Only asked if anyone else had heard anything to that effect. Juuuuuust asking the grapevine here.

I'm in the DC area, which is obviously a world very connected to the military band scene, and I had heard some noise about some seriously fishy stuff from sources who should remain unnamed. 8)

Didn't say you were drawing conclusions, just addressing the points you listed. If what you listed is all that was said I'm not seeing anything "fishy."

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 4:25 pm
by Copernicus
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Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 4:51 pm
by Timmm
Copernicus wrote:From my understanding, the Air Force bands have been in the habit of "qualifying" people at auditions, in addition to hiring someone for the immediate vacancy — with the understanding that, should and opening arise in the near future, those who are already qualified would be offered a job without having to re-audition.

Those with whom I have spoken — and I agree with them – think it's quite strange that people who currently hold professional orchestra jobs or collegiate professorships were turned away from the live audition, indicating an extremely high level of talent at the live audition, but then only one person was hired with no additional qualifiers. And again, on good authority, apparently the band leadership was not thrilled with the players who were at the live audition.

Not trying to "stir the pot," per se, just curious if anyone had heard such rumblings...
I'll say again, recordings aren't always 100% indicative of a player's live ability (it's really easy to edit recordings now), and the committee is likely looking for a specific type of player. Current jobs are sort of irrelevant if you don't play how they want you to.

It seems that the implication (whether it's from you or someone else) is that the committee was looking for a specific person, not necessarily the best person.
I see that quite a bit on here. Correct me if I'm wrong there. If that's the case, I'll reiterate my point from above. 4. The person that was offered the position didn't know the people in the band.

If you aren't trying to stir the pot I'm my sure why you are asking people to speculate on a public forum.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 7:57 pm
by Watchman
Copernicus wrote:Sorry, new here..."auditions" thread not the right place?
What I meant was that gossip about how auditions might not be fair is generally frowned upon. This forum is for:

1. Announcing vacancies.
2. Complaining about the excerpts.
3. College recruiting??
4. Saying that "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy" when somebody wins.
5. If you advance and don't win the job, finding a way to get your name in the thread too so that everyone knows you are also a good player.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:25 am
by Alex C
Watchman wrote: This forum is for:

1. Announcing vacancies.
2. Complaining about the excerpts.
3. College recruiting??
4. Saying that "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy" when somebody wins.
5. If you advance and don't win the job, finding a way to get your name in the thread too so that everyone knows you are also a good player.
I'm sorry, I didn't know about these rules and I bet the transgressor did not know either. Where can we find the rules posted?

I agree, the post was a poor place to say this. Censorship, except in cases of incitement to violence, is usually frowned upon in the US in general and in academic environments altogether.

Generally, auditions suck... except for one person.

Re: Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs Tuba

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 3:38 pm
by happyroman
Copernicus wrote:From my understanding, the Air Force bands have been in the habit of "qualifying" people at auditions, in addition to hiring someone for the immediate vacancy — with the understanding that, should and opening arise in the near future, those who are already qualified would be offered a job without having to re-audition.

Those with whom I have spoken — and I agree with them – think it's quite strange that people who currently hold professional orchestra jobs or collegiate professorships were turned away from the live audition, indicating an extremely high level of talent at the live audition, but then only one person was hired with no additional qualifiers. And again, on good authority, apparently the band leadership was not thrilled with the players who were at the live audition.

Not trying to "stir the pot," per se, just curious if anyone had heard such rumblings...
That is how I ended up in the Air Force Band of the Midwest. I auditioned for the Ceremonial Band in DC, did well, but not well enough to win that job. A few weeks later, I received a phone call from the Band Commander at Chanute AFB offering me a job playing in a brass quintet he was forming.