Originally Posted by rowuk

Rant: Hags, I am not getting on your case, I have a problem with the process!

This is a real tough post for me, on the one side, the theoretical idea of auditions to anonymously choose the most talented, best suited personality and character for a job and on the other side, a lawyer (or army of lawyers) that gets involved to supposedly fix an imperfect system. At the end of the day, even if the audition is annulled - so what? A new audition is held where everything is on the surface politically correct, but the underlying personalities are the same. Is the end product really better, or have we just stroked some of the auditionees that think that they can demand a fairness that in my opinion does (can) not exist.
What appeals to me in music (and in other players, conductors and critics) is NOT objective. My choice of wife was not OBJECTIVE, the pieces that I choose to play for my next concert are chosen by my gut level feeling.
I can not imagine an audition where I could turn off my preferences and give every player an equal chance. I can warn them in advance that I am a stickler for rhythm and preparation. I can publish that the function of the first round is merely to sort out AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE the players that I do NOT want because I feel they are not ready or suitable and I am not there (or have time) to train auditions. Generally, I do not need 50 excerpts to have an opinion about some player. The first 2 or 3 minutes gives me a pretty good picture of the playing skills and style, after that the rest is an indication how well the person plays under pressure and the degree of preparation. Funny enough cracked notes are VERY useful indicators, does the players playing fall apart after a train wreck? If not, they are much less significant than the players assume!
I guess the question is: what does an orchestra with an open position OWE anybody not presently employed? My guess is nothing, just like when IBM recruits new employees, they do not need to pull there pants down and reveal the whole process. At the end of the day they have to prove that sex, religion and race had nothing to do with the decision making UNLESS there is an artificial quota established!
Rant enough. Hags, I am sorry that you didn't get any further, I have been there and can only say, it you want to play badly enough, you chalk this up to experience. If you think that the outcome can be influenced by outside intervention, go for it. Even if you get the job.........................

My bet is at the end of the day, every orchestra gets what they deserve!