No hire auditions: A view from the other side

[windshieldbug]

Is it possible that a reason for a "no hire" audition is because management decides that they don't want to pay for a permanent employee? Maybe if the sub, who is not getting benefits or being paid as much, is working out fine. So the management decides they need to save a little money.

I have NEVER even heard of this happening. "The Management" doesn't even have a seat on this particular committee. The Personnel Director MAY be present at the audition, but only PRESENT, and has no input during the discussion process.

It is in the best interest of EVERYONE on the committee to hire someone. If you like the sub, you'd like to make sure that they are available, and not juggling jobs or committed to another group.

Like Woodsheddin' says, the thing to do is leave no question in anyone's mind who it should be, no matter how many people COULD do the job.

[Alex C]

Here is the real message you should take away from a "no-hire" audition:

"The committee and music director were too divided by artistic opinion, personality conflict, or lack of mature decision-making to select one person from among the candidates. Because of the requirements of the modern audition system, our only solution is to start again."

Well, I think this quote sums up a lot of frustration many musicians have expressed here. It lays with at the committee which where it should be. Their committee didn't work, whether it was personality conflicts within the committee or real artistic disagreement: their committee failed.

The interesting thing is that the audition under discussion in the quote is for the Alabama Symphony, only in existance since 1997. The lack of finding a competent bassist for them would be more understandable if it were the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, etc. (BTW, The old Birmingham Symphony could play with the best orchestras anywhere.)

This does not preclude some of the auditiones' failure but considering the overall level of performance in today's auditionee's, somebody should play well enough to win most auditions.

[J Stowe]

Are you saying that the musicians taking these auditions are as passion-less as the confused, adolescent high-schoolers working at their part-time job at a fast food restaurant? This comparison seems a little harsh to me, but perhaps I'm being overly sensitive.

[MartyNeilan]

There are also ways to "setup " musicians to succeed or fail at auditions. A few years ago I went to an audition where they had a solo (typically F tuba rep), then Berlioz, then Mahler 1 solo, and then The Ride. I was able to hear many of the auditons, and was surprised at the number of very fine players who cacked all over The Ride. Why? After playing super soft and holding out that long note on F tuba, try putting that horn down and immediately picking up a big CC, and having the first notes notes you have blown on that horn in the last 15 minutes be The Ride. Perhaps a better "bridge" between the two would have been Meistersinger or one of the other pieces further down the list. Many strong players with strong chops are not able to make such an abrupt transition. (Here is one reason to support the "one rim and inner diameter for all mouthpieces theory.)

HOWEVER>> I am not making "excuses" as there was at least one standout that was able to nail down everything in the order it was given.

[Mudman]

Are you saying that the musicians taking these auditions are as passion-less as the confused, adolescent high-schoolers working at their part-time job at a fast food restaurant? This comparison seems a little harsh to me, but perhaps I'm being overly sensitive.

There's no reason to be offended if it doesn't pertain to you...and there's really no need to be offended if indeed it does pertain to you.

Funniest response ever. +1

[windshieldbug]

After playing super soft and holding out that long note on F tuba, try putting that horn down and immediately picking up a big CC, and having the first notes notes you have blown on that horn in the last 15 minutes be The Ride.

Unfortunately, tubists don't get to program concerts. And having abrupt transitions to make without getting to play a note in between happens way more often than you'd like it to!