Marry me

I spent like a full minute writing that comment??

👏GENERAL👏STRIKE👏GENERAL👏STRIKE👏GENERAL👏STRIKE

Good for him. Let's see if he can actually keep this one

I did not realize this would rub people the wrong way. Most of my friends I’ve talked to about this (who have orchestra jobs all over the country), tend to agree with me. If most orchestral musicians disagree, then maybe *that’s* the problem. I will not concede it either. There is nothing creative or musical about taking an audition. It does not happen for an audience and there is little room or reward for spontaneity. The times I‘ve done the best in audition are when I’ve just felt completely dead about the product I’ve put out. I‘m truly very jealous of all of you who find joy and success in this process.

Gee thanks.

I think given that our community is so small and everyone knows everyone, I feel like there could be concerns that participating in any kind of strike could have professional repercussions down the line, especially if we are trying to decide which are the "good" and "bad" orchestras. I'm not saying we have to campaign against an audition for the Kalamazoo Symphony (although they did famously have a no-hire clarinet audition a few years back...), but I feel like any of the top 15 or 20 orchestras (budget/payroll/however you want to quantify it) are plenty guilty of this. And they do employ the most powerful and prominent members of our community...

We should do a general strike of auditions. I'm not even joking. Statistically speaking only one or two people stand to gain financially from going to any given audition anyways. The rest of us lose thousands even if we just take 1 or 2 a year. I'm in my 30s and way too old to be taking auditions "for the experience". I've had enough. I want money, or at the very least, an equitable and transparent audition process. That is not even taking into account the emotional toll. Preparing for an audition is one of the most a-musical and crushing process we as artists have to endure. After a certain point, there is little if anything that is rewarding about it and we've been brainwashed to believe we have enjoy the process. Plus, the rampant misogyny and racism has disillusioned so many wonderful musicians. I have so many friends who are women who consistently will get to the (super)final round of (very prominent) auditions and then the screen comes down and for some reason, if there's a man in the round, it pretty much always goes their way (or a no-hire!) Orchestras have faced absolutely zero consequences for what basically amounts to abuse of the work force. What exactly are we all doing this for when a section violin audition for the Philadelphia Orchestra ends in a no-hire? Enough is enough. Collective action is the only way forward. I do not want to go through another one of these when most of the people in charge on the other side last took an audition during the Clinton presidency.

Yup, I believe Barrett Ham and Taylor Eiffert were awarded trials

I believe Barrett Ham and Taylor Eiffert were awarded trials

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