Red-Flag in a Previous No-Hire
In 2024, a principal audition was held and resulted in a no-hire. The position was then given on an acting basis to a section member who had also served on the audition committee. For reasons that are unclear, the audition process was delayed for two years, effectively extending that individual’s role as acting principal.
The audition has now been reposted and is scheduled to take place in summer 2026. However, it appears that the same section member may again serve on the committee.
Given the orchestra’s already questionable reputation with auditions and sub hirings, this raises concerns about whether the process will simply result in another no-hire or be fair. More importantly, since this is a unionized orchestra, it brings up a potential conflict of interest: is it appropriate for a section member who benefits from the outcome to participate in committee decisions that could lead to another no-hire?
Ultimately, this leads to a broader question—what is the incentive for candidates to take this audition if the process has already been unfair?
How can we get the union involved in this matter? or ask to have a union rep at the audition?
“Given the orchestra’s already questionable reputation with auditions and sub hirings, this raises concerns about whether the process will simply result in another no-hire or be fair.”
This is a somewhat disingenuous question; no hires suck, but they happen in fair auditions all the time. It’s entirely possible for this audition to be fair and still end with a no hire.