Any word on who advanced to semi's of the seattle audition? Any word on Jeff Kail?

i heard joseph hearne dominated, cleaned house and just totally embarassed the competition. can anyone confirm?

Joseph Hearne of the Boston Symphony??

I don't know Mr. Vegetables; I heard it was but John Salkowski who impressed the entire commitee with his flawless, yet refined and considerate German bow technique-- a rarity among most Boston trained Underhand players.

Salkowski made finals and did indeed impress, but was disqualified after audition monitors discovered traces of marijuana, mescaline and GHB (the date-rape drug) in his urine sample.

Ok, wait, I think both of you guys are confused because I took the audition (didn't advance) and I know that finals aren't until tommorow? So what's the deal?

refined and considerate German bow technique-- a rarity among most Boston trained Underhand players.


Wow, thats a rough comment. Being a New York trained French player I really have no attachment. You don't think todd seeber is a very good teacher? As far as I know, he's the only german teacher in town, right?

Okay here is how it is in seattle
Four finalists.......The old principal of Indy Aro Pavo Hoinin is in the finals, Andy Anderson (Currently with Chicago lyric Opera) A guy from new world who it believe is from the seattle area and studeid in Boston and my old roommate Joe Everett studied a curtis and has been hanging around btown for two years now and just beeen practicing. Jeff Kail did not take the audition. I will keep you all posted and tell you tomorrow who wins. Big J

I'm from Olympia, but I take lessons from Jordan Anderson (the Seattle principal). I also got to sit in the section for a performance of Mozart 40 a few months ago.

Things you all should consider:

I think only two of the nine members are German bow players.

Anyone from Curtis has a HUGE advantage in a Seattle audition. The last dozen or so members of the orchestra they hired have ALL been from Curtis. As it stands now, the last three or four bassists (including my teacher) they've hired are Curtis alumni. I know it's a blind audition, but they do look at resumes.

Joe everett does not hold a degree from IU he just does not have a degree at all. Joel Kauffman who has been subbing with Seattle Symphony for the past year and beat joe. Which is think is BS. but whatever that is how auditions go. Congrats to Joel

Joe Kaufman is a fine bassist. I've played with him on some recording sessions in Seattle. From what I've witnessed, he deserved the job, although I haven't heard the competition...He first moved to Seattle to join the Pacific Northwest Ballet. He was in the New World Symphony, and studied with Jeff Bradetich of North Texas if I'm not mistaken...

Bryce Van Parys

Jordan is my teacher, and I would trust his instincts, at least in this regard, over Gerard Schwarz's any day. Jordan knows exactly what to look for in a bass player, and Schwarz has been known to put a lot of faith in his playing and instincts.

When I first met Jordan, I was set up by a family friend through the principal cellists of the Seattle and Everett Symphonies (husband and wife). Ray Davis, the Seattle principal, is in his mid 60's and about ready to retire. He's probably sat through thousands of auditions. He told me, before Jordan arrived for dinner, that Jordan's audition was the first and only audition he had ever heard in his entire career that he would describe as being "absolutely perfect."

The guy's got an ear. You wouldn't believe how good his lessons are. Seriously, he should be teaching in a school. He only has three or four students, and I'm incredibly lucky to be working with him.

Paul Cannon and B. Johnson, I would also like to know where you get your information. I would hope that you wouldn't write something like this unless it was coming from a valid and unbiased source. You wouldn't do that, would you? I suggest you keep comments like these to yourself. They are nothing but negative and destructive.

Not that I care......I got the job.


Oh, sorry. I knew you read these things. For the record, I was questioning Mr. Johnson's claims, not your win.

Oh, and congratulations. Jordan speaks highly of you.

OH SNAP! you silly sad ladies got called out and SLAPPED by my boy joebass. perchance it'll teach you to GET A LIFE. if not i'll fight either of you in a cage.

I fought the vegetables...














...and the vegetables won...

OH SNAP! you silly sad ladies got called out and SLAPPED by my boy joebass. perchance it'll teach you to GET A LIFE. if not i'll fight either of you in a cage.

Are you talking to me? I was defending Joe's win, and questioning Brian Johnson's claims and sources. Sorry if I wasn't very articulate.

The great thing about viewing users' Public Profiles is that it can often help one determine when a particular user may be a, dare I say, troll...especially when said user is posting curious and anti-social (although humorous) messages...

What an interesting thread this is for an outsider like me! Makes me glad I'm a jazz musician, a field in which there are no contracted/salaried/benefitted gigs.

I still want to know where people hear these kinds of things from. I study with the principal, and he won't tell me anything. Not even after the fact. Not that I really pried, or even cared. I just don't know who from or how people hear these rumors about closed-door discussions.

Maybe there was a fight over it, or maybe it was unanimous. How would anyone not sitting in that room know about it?

When you get in to college you will learn that all that stuff comes out in the open. You have to be able to sift out what is true and what is crap cause it's half and half most of the time.


The bottom line is, who really cares? Joe got the job, and good for him. You have to be a fantastic player to even make it to the final round, and, generally speaking, most of the people that make it to the final round are all employable candidates. The rest is just pointless gossip.

Word up

Friends, it truly is hard to know the facts with a lone orchestra with such isolation as Seattle. I wouldn't let a little intimidation scare anyone from seeking the truth as it does exist somewhere. If someone fears seeking the truth, that is generally guilt rearing it's ugly head.

In case you are at all interested, I took a gander at the Seattle website and it appears that there are only 7 individuals listed under bass.
It appears that the institution has been non-union for a great deal of time, which means they do not have AFM rules for auditions. Of course, the non-union rules could always be just as good. I have read they have quite an interesting audition history.

Friends, it truly is hard to know the facts with a lone orchestra with such isolation as Seattle [...] It appears that the institution has been non-union for a great deal of time, which means they do not have AFM rules for auditions. Of course, the non-union rules could always be just as good. I have read they have quite an interesting audition history.


Yes, that's all right. There is, instead, the Seattle Symphony Musician's Guild. I believe they decided to leave the musician's union because it did not allow them to work as many hours as the organization would have liked. As a result, the musicians are paid relatively high wages for what they do, but have to work more hours and concerts than other orchestras.

If I recall, members are offered the opportunity to play in Seattle Opera productions for extra money, but they are not typically required to do so.

All it means is they have more autonomy from outside influences. The symphony's board is able to meet exactly what the musicians want without intermediaries or dealing with restrictions that are meant to protect the musicians from being overworked or exploited. If the orchestra members want to work more and be paid more, then forming their own union makes sense.

I have no idea what their procedure is for auditioning is, though. I know that they were able to fire their concertmaster this last year for being too sick or something. Right now they're going through a private audition process to find a new concertmaster. I also know that their Personnel Manager, Ron Simon, is a bassist in the section.

I also heard that the bassist/personnel manager is the proctor for every single audition. Is he good? Possibly quite an intimidating situation.

Many fine orchestras negotiate to work more and get paid more while still being in the AFM, but what do I really know? A web article stated that the musicians are paid a percentage of advertised salary for the opera and if they choose to deny it, they make less than advertised scale.

Way to go, Joe K.!

Chalk up ONE MORE for the New World alums, and the 2000 NRO alums (Despite Topelow)!

So I guess I won't see you in National?

-Karl

Actually I bet the proctor is like " dude I need to practice, these guys kick ass...."
Of cousre I am sure the proctor is a spy for the jury OR maybe he is the jury. Where does he go when the jury meets to vote....?

As a colleague said to me. " just play so well they have to give you the job. " or as another said before winning a Big 5 gig, " this orchestra doesn't want me , I am too much trouble for them......"
Speculating on audition politics and practicies

I mean COME ON if a man can get voted to be Prez as a result of illegal and well documented questionable acts and then continue to get re elected later ,then of course what do you peolple think goes on at auditions ?
I believe very much in the idea that if I didn't get the gig, it wasn't meant to be. Luckily my history is filled with " thank G that I didn't get that gig, they folded"
Tha't my rant today ,
G-out

Actually I bet the proctor is like " dude I need to practice, these guys kick ass...."
Of cousre I am sure the proctor is a spy for the jury OR maybe he is the jury. Where does he go when the jury meets to vote....?

As a colleague said to me. " just play so well they have to give you the job. " or as another said before winning a Big 5 gig, " this orchestra doesn't want me , I am too much trouble for them......"
Speculating on audition politics and practicies

I mean COME ON if a man can get voted to be Prez as a result of illegal and well documented questionable acts and then continue to get re elected later ,then of course what do you peolple think goes on at auditions ?
I believe very much in the idea that if I didn't get the gig, it wasn't meant to be. Luckily my history is filled with " thank G that I didn't get that gig, they folded"
Tha't my rant today ,
G-out


Does anyone know this bass player/proctor? G-Force, I couldn't agree more about the rampant corruption of humankind. But there are rules - you are never supposed to openly speak about the truth and must always smile no matter what. Now you can do anything!

__________________________________________________ _
What trick, what device, what starting-hole canst thou now find out, to hide thee from this open and apparent shame?

Wherein [art thou] good, but to taste sack and drink it? Wherein neat and cleanly, but to carve a capon and eat it? Wherein cunning, but in craft? Wherein crafty but in villainy? Wherein villainous, but in all things? Wherein worthy but in nothing?

Taken from: Henry IV, part I

Does anyone know this bass player/proctor? G-Force, I couldn't agree more about the rampant corruption of humankind. But there are rules - you are never supposed to openly speak about the truth and must always smile no matter what. Now you can do anything!
Ron Simon? I've seen him around. He's really nice.

LOBass told me he used to take lessons from him.

Actually I bet the proctor is like " dude I need to practice, these guys kick ass...."
Of cousre I am sure the proctor is a spy for the jury OR maybe he is the jury. Where does he go when the jury meets to vote....?
G-out

Hey, I'm another one of those guys who's "in the room" at auditions. As a member of the musicians committee, I occasionally serve as the Union Steward Designee.
When I serve as the Designee, (which is really cool, and educational, to do) I watch both sides of the screen to be sure all contract rules are followed; ensuring contractual fairness, you could say.
When each round is finished, I remind the committee about when they may and may NOT discuss candidates, remind them when to vote and what they're voting on, then collect the secret ballots and observe as Management (Personnel Director) counts them, and announces the results.
That's what this guy is probably doing; the "proctor" is usually a member of management, while the steward is usually a musician acting on behalf of the union, observing the process.

"That's what this guy is probably doing; the "proctor" is usually a member of management, while the steward is usually a musician acting on behalf of the union, observing the process." -KPO

KPO, you sound like an honorable, fair-minded gent. It has been discussed though, that the Seattle Orch isn't in the AFM. Who knows if they have anyone like you there?

KPO, you sound like an honorable, fair-minded gent. It has been discussed though, that the Seattle Orch isn't in the AFM. Who knows if they have anyone like you there?
I do. Ronald Simon. He's a really nice guy. He plays on this funky plywood bass, and he carries it around backwards on his back. It's crazy.

The lesson here is not that symphonies are inherently evil or corrupt, it's that we should try harder to make connections and network. I don't see that as a bad thing.

Look I'll set the record straight. About Mr simon I was not speaking specifically. And to boot ,I too auditioned there back in the day and he actually was surprised I didn't get passed the round. ( I didn't have any more money..) But please we must keep the humor up and the seriousness in check.
Of course I trust these systems, I must. BUT just just because Im paranoid does not mean they are not out to get me. Dig??
I have sat on my fair share of jurys and for the most part when the screen goes down the ears shut off.

I'll try to keep my sarcasm down to security level beige.

I'll try to keep my sarcasm down to security level beige.

Now, why would you want to do a thing like that, G? It's such a wonderful thing when we can all share the bare truth and have fun at the same time, isn't it? Another of my many favorite pasttimes.

Did someone say....plywood bass...personnel manager...proctor... Seattle Orch? Unfathomable. How much do they make? Does the whole section use plywood? Kays? 5 strings? Is he one of the Curtis grads? He wasn't on the audition winners' page.
Does he use a fiberglass bow,too?

The next craze I predict will be mandatory beta blocker and performance enhancing drug testing.
But as the snow boarder said to the testing committee " but not getting high befre a competition is boring,,,,"
I ll keep the sarcasm going as long as it is welcomed.

But really aren't beta blockers kind of the easy way out?
Would Lance agree to their usage and which Mozart excerpt says quarter note= 120 + 10mg/hr?
I mean COme on?
Signing out Im off for a tour of the most northernly southern coast in europe. Sørlandet!!!

...
Of course I trust these systems, I must. BUT just just because Im paranoid does not mean they are not out to get me. Dig??

I have sat on my fair share of jurys and for the most part when the screen goes down the ears shut off.

That last comment is really something to think about.

I think it's true - when the screen comes down, the ears do funny things, they eyes do even funnier!

There are very few orchestras who seem to hold the COMPLETE audition process behind a screen... I'll bet they *always* find the best player. I believe Kansas City does this.. what are the others?... I forget now. I think it's talked about in the "auditions" forum of this site.

Anyway, I can also see the reasonable desire to actually *see* the candidates, since at that point you're about to hire someone that you may have to sit next to for the NEXT THIRTY YEARS!

But really, that's what the standard two-year tenure-approval process is for, it's just that people don't often feel *cruel* enough to actually make the tough decision to "let someone go" after they've already played next to you for a year... so they want to "nip" weirdos out "in the bud," at the final round.

Here are some things to think about. It's important to see the candidate about to be hired because as much as a symphony concert is an aural experience it is visual as well. I've sat on committees (not bass) where the candidates played great behind the screen, then the screen came down and the conductor started to work with them. They looked totally introverted, were dressed sloppily, didn't respond well to the conductor's energy and vibe and so they weren't hired. Great players, not the right fit. You need to think about presenting a total package (playing well, looking good and professional, getting rid of any ticks that puts a committee on edge.) As for Inderal, I've won auditions with and won them without. My feeling is "whatever it takes." If you play your best high on acid, do it. The stakes are too high. I remember a guy who always got nervous at auditions but was a big cigar smoker. When he had a stogie in his mouth he was a totally different player. I suggested he play his next audition con stogie. Don't know if he followed my advice but he does have a great gig now.

allegro con stogie

ahhh thats funny as hell

Whoa, ebh1234 5 6 I'm tr!pp!n RIGHT now to c if it makes me play better for audision... whoa how do you know if you took toooo much? How do I know if im plaaaayin better?

the music is moving all over the pages... don't think i'll be neervous but not sure i can play the right composiiton . . . .

Maybe allogro can stogee is better insted or allagre con pacifier

who ar you men ehbcdf1

"whatever does it takes" ? ? ?

e b
h b1111

Look I mean we can't judge others even though it's fun. Quite frankly I don't know anyone who won a job who used performance enhancers who also couldn't play well. I mean as unfair as it may seem it is still legal . As a matter of fact an interesting article in the NYT recently spoke about the widespread use of Betas in the music industry. The author spoke of how he liked the sound of great musicians screwing up sometimes. He went on to discuss V Horowitz's famous comeback Carnegie recital ( sans stogie...) and how the Sony release had erased the mistakes from the live one.

He got off track I felt then refering to H Hahn, J Bell and Shahan,( not Mike but Gil) all of which I either studied with or knew. He didn't prefer their perfect sound and concert cds. I can say with a fair amount of security that these people kick ass with the drug or not. I highly doubt they use them. But I mean if Lance gets hell why not guys with cigars..

Sorry , my point being.... there are many legal drugs to enhance your playing. Caffeine, sugar, inderal , and many others. as long as it is legal then maybe we could drop the moaning over it's usage. It's not the olympics from72 where it wasn't sure what sex the eastern german team was. But they where hairy...
I tried it , inderal, in Chicago. PLayed great but lacked luster. But then again I play great drunk too.( that's sarcasm) At least I think so ..But not many others think so...
I think the guy with the stogie played after me and EHDBL1 played before me if my memory is correct. They kicked my ass then. BUT they guy with the vote, Solti r.i.p , didn't pick anyone. AM I right??? October 1992.All i remember was that my muffler fell off in Gary Indianna and my friends car got towed cause he was too cheap to pay for parking. I at least got my girlfriend a new muffler. are you tired yet of the rambling? well thats what this thread has turned out to be.

Can we please talk about something like why bass rosin sucks( can I say suck ?) and violin rosin rules . I have colleagues who laughed at me for buying the new oak rosin.

I would prefer a pill that I could take that would make my opponents freak out. But I don't want to spike the punch with Maryjane,,,,,
BTW I bought the Inderal in Spain with out a perscription and for like 5 bucks. They wanted to give me first 100mg horse pills. I'm glad I said NO mas pequeño por favor.
Spain was fun.
G out

G-force, you have made many excellent points, one of which being that this thread has travelled to a path other than it's title. This has been a great journey in my opinion, though.

We could always talk more about that NW orchestra.
There was a poster who was very interesting and suddenly disappeared... I think the username was Cannon. He seemed to have lots of interesting insights.
Where, oh where has he gone?

I was at an audition once and this guy had his girlfriend in his "private" warmup room. Talk about an advantage, I'm sure he was relaxed as hell (if you know what I mean.) Whatever it takes....

I was at an audition once and this guy had his girlfriend in his "private" warmup room. Talk about an advantage, I'm sure he was relaxed as hell (if you know what I mean.) Whatever it takes....
Ahhhhh, yes, friends, I'm trying this momentarily... such a better idea... can't wait to see what she does to my playing if I make it to my bass.
can't wait to see what she looks like - hopefuly they send someone good.

We could always talk more about that NW orchestra.
There was a poster who was very interesting and suddenly disappeared... I think the username was Cannon. He seemed to have lots of interesting insights.
Where, oh where has he gone?
Who, me? I'm around. I just haven't had much to add lately.

Actually, I'm in Aspen for the summer, so my internet access is somewhat limited. I get around, though.

i heard joseph hearne dominated, cleaned house and just totally embarassed the competition. can anyone confirm?

Yeah... Joe Hearne always cleans up at auditions. I heard that Zach Cohen (New Principal of Milwaukee) heard Joe play and is resigning the spot to Joe because he was so taken with his playing.:eek:

Joe Hearne is faster, quicker, hotter, dirtier, nastier, and wetter than any other bassist today. The only REAL German bow player in the BSO besides Ben Levy. Tut Tut young bass nerds and make way for the real Masterbass.

Joe Hearne is faster, quicker, hotter, dirtier, nastier, and wetter than any other bassist today. The only REAL German bow player in the BSO besides Ben Levy. Tut Tut young bass nerds and make way for the real Masterbass.

Not Seeber?

Seeber plays French, I think.

Who Cares?! Don't talk about the German bow without including the name JOE HEARNE in that sentence.

are you joe hearne?

DON'T MENTION JOE HEARNES NAME WITHOUT "GERMAN BOW" THE SENTENCE!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you say a little more about Joe Hearne...I guess I am required to write "german bow".

How old is he? (approx.)

Does he teach? is he a good teacher/coach?

Juilliard student, I heard. Who is/was his teacher?

DON'T MENTION JOE HEARNES NAME WITHOUT "GERMAN BOW" THE SENTENCE!!!!!!!!!!!

https://smuaramark.catertrax.com/images%5Cstarbucks%20decaf.jpeg

hahaha. decaf.
JOE HEARNE! GERMAN BOW!

Seeber plays French, I think.

Think not my friend he is a Butler bow boy.

First there was Jesus, now there is George Bush - soon there will be only Joe Hearne. Bow down.

Well, I is a ol' country boy who work on Mr. Hearne's farm back in da 1980's. We grew vegetables and the occasional tree fors sapping. If there's one thing I learned from Master Joe its if you are gonna go anywhere in life you gotta bounce it......"bounce da damn bow". I has been bouncin it for the past 40 yrs on my 7/8ths Jucek bass w/ black ebony C extension. I tried for seattle, but I's got 10th outta 78, tough luck.

Perhaps a small talk with Mssrs. Hearne and Salkowski's lawyers will get things right around here.
I find this post libelous and should be entirely deleted.
Another thing for all you budding, wannabe trolls:
1)Be amusing (you guys ain't, sorry)
2)Don't post anything illegal or libelous (saying a respected member of the BSO tested positive for drugs qualifies) 3)Make sense as you parody with real opinions.
DELETE THIS THREAD DELETE THIS THREAD DELETE THIS THREAD!

Seeber plays French, I think.

wrong again.

ANDY DELETE THIS POST!

Hey, saw settle down - oil prices are rising, I think

Look
Can we please talk about something like why bass rosin sucks( can I say suck ?) and violin rosin rules . I have colleagues who laughed at me for buying the new oak rosin.
G out

I dig the new Old Oak Rosin. It's similar to Kolstein but without the powdery-ness.