[Trombone-l] Cleveland Orch Trombone Article in newspaper

[Stuart Collidge]

This is a problem that is common everywhere, though.  The ability to write 
the best job application doesn't make you the most suitable person to do the 
job.

I do agree with Gabriel's perspective, that a review of the people that have 
successfully done the gig is a great place to start.  All of the work that I 
have ever done as a trombonist has been through who I've known, not the 
audition process.  People know what I'm capable of, how I handle rehearsals 
and performance, how well I can deal with other musicians, etc.  The two 
auditions that I have attended were both horribly unsuccessful for me, 
despite the fact that I could have very successfully done the job.  In one 
case, the guy they gave it to lasted in the job for 6 months before having a 
giant dummy spit and then they were auditioning again.  If they'd given the 
gig to someone that they knew (ie. me) , then they would have been aware of 
that kind of issue and it would never have cropped up.

I think that what John is trying to allude to, though, is that orchestras 
have a responsibility as an employer.  It is kind of hard to find the right 
words, but they should be providing motivating opportunities for young 
musicians coming through the university system so that we can foster a new 
generation of musicians, which is important for the sake of not only the 
existing musicians, but also helps in creating new audiences.  I don't know, 
even that doesn't sound quite right.  Does anyone get what I'm trying to 
say?

It's late at night and I'm rambling, sorry!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Albert" <jeffalbert.smb at gmail.com>
To: "JENKINS,JOHN J" <posaune at ufl.edu>
Cc: "Trb. List" <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 11:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Cleveland Orch Trombone Article in newspaper


> On 5/26/07, JENKINS,JOHN J <posaune at ufl.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> With all due respect, I feel that blind auditions are no doubt the
>> pinnacle of "fairness". It's the only way of selecting someone
>> based on their ability without any bias or trickery.
>
>
> The problem with that is that the skills needed to do well on a blind
> audition are not necessarily the same skills used to do the job well.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -- 
> www.jeffalbert.com
>
> www.scratchmybrain.com
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