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04-08-2009, 10:57 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Lakland, Genz Benz | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, that toddling town | | | European Orchestra gig?
It seems there's half a dozen orchestral openings on the other side of the pond for every one here...
Anyone have experience scoring one of these chairs?
Visa issues? Comparative pay scale? Language barrier? Travel issues? Hot Euro-babes? 
With all the hassle guys are going through here just to face a no-hire, and with the number of incredible players applying for such a small amount of gigs, elsewhere is sounding better every day.
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04-17-2009, 10:51 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Europe | | | I have a Job in Spain. The Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon. The money is pretty good. Its a safe bet as far as not folding. The cost of living is reasonable. I have a hot Spanish girlfriend, and I go to Paris for lessons, and sometimes London. Travel is easy.
I'd like to move to France.
Work papers are usually attained when you win the job. I speak Spanish, French...
Culturally getting used to a place is difficult. Spain is difficult to get used to, the mentality is alot more conservative than California. |
04-17-2009, 05:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston | | | good questions. i am curious about the same thing. hopefully this will turn into a good thread. |
04-17-2009, 05:40 PM
| | | I work at the WDR (Westdeutscher Rundkfunk) in Cologne. I play in the WDR Big Band (jazz), but there are also two orchestras and a choir employed by the radio. The source for finding out about jobs in Germany would be das Orchester Magazine. You would probably have to subscribe to the mag--I don't think they post the audition stuff online. I think in the April issue, there were 30 or more announcements for bass auditions. There are all levels of orchestras here -- just like in the US. The better ones pay . . . better.
As ekspain implies, it helps to speak the language . . . plus, you would need a bit of wanderlust (as they say here) to pick up and leave Chicago. |
04-17-2009, 07:56 PM
| | | | Is work unheard of for a French Bow player in Germany? |
04-17-2009, 08:31 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boise Idaho | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks  Is work unheard of for a French Bow player in Germany? | Yes, French bow is inferior and for some reason Germany is the only country that knows it. Ny phil and La phil seem to be getting the idea though. I suggest changing bows or choosing a different career path. |
04-17-2009, 10:37 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by professorslinky Yes, French bow is inferior and for some reason Germany is the only country that knows it. Ny phil and La phil seem to be getting the idea though. I suggest changing bows or choosing a different career path. | "Satory" made French Bows. Last time I checked that's what Rabbath played as well... |
04-17-2009, 11:18 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boise Idaho | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks "Satory" made French Bows. Last time I checked that's what Rabbath played as well... | Calvin you shouldn't change your post every time you think of something more clever to say than "Okay, Thanks"
And I never said I liked Rabbath, I just thought it was a epic quote at Domaine. And if Satory had heard me I'm sure he would have only made german bows. |
04-17-2009, 11:38 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by professorslinky Calvin you shouldn't change your post every time you think of something more clever to say than "Okay, Thanks"
And I never said I liked Rabbath, I just thought it was a epic quote at Domaine. And if Satory had heard me I'm sure he would have only made german bows. | S- a - R- t- o- r- y.  |
04-18-2009, 12:43 AM
| | | Right . . . they mostly seem to play German here, and in France . . . well, you get the picture I think  |
04-19-2009, 07:50 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Copenhagen | | | It seems to me that, from looking at musicalchairs.info, most orchestras in EU countries will only let EU passport holders/people who already hold EU work visas apply for positions unless it is for a titled spot.
Does anyone have more information about this? |
04-19-2009, 11:17 AM
| | | | There are a lot of Americans, Australians, Korean -- non-EU players in German orchestras. If you get a contract offer from an orchestra, then you can work out getting the appropriate working papers and residence permit. |
04-19-2009, 10:34 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Europe | | | Some countries require that you have a residence and work permit in that country before applying for the position. If the position isn't filled by someone from there, they hold international auditions. Chop 92, I was under the impression that German jobs were particularly insulated? Europe in general may tend to be some what endogamic in its hiring procedure, however this is not always the case. |
04-19-2009, 11:35 PM
| | | | You might be right—my position is considered a solo position. I got the working papers and residence permit only after I was offered the job.
I think players looking for a job here tend to come out of the German Conservatory system—and there are a lot of foreign students going to school here. They already have student visas. In addition, I think it is logistically more practical to apply for a job within the EU when you are already living here. I will ask a few of the colleagues from the orchestras when I see them this week.
ek: How long have you been with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon? |
04-20-2009, 05:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin Marks Is work unheard of for a French Bow player in Germany? | Not sure about Germany, but the Vienna Philharmonic requires the use of German bows exclusively. |
04-20-2009, 07:01 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Lakland, Genz Benz | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, that toddling town | | Guys, once again, can we please ignore all things "slinky."
His opinions on the merits of the bow are well documented, and we've certainly all seen his video on the technique thereof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yCddbPFnQ |
04-20-2009, 07:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Europe | | Quote:
Originally Posted by chop_1992 You might be right—my position is considered a solo position. I got the working papers and residence permit only after I was offered the job.
I think players looking for a job here tend to come out of the German Conservatory system—and there are a lot of foreign students going to school here. They already have student visas. In addition, I think it is logistically more practical to apply for a job within the EU when you are already living here. I will ask a few of the colleagues from the orchestras when I see them this week.
ek: How long have you been with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon? | Hey Chop, going on my 3rd season. I was going to IU previously, doing my masters, then I got the job here. How long you been in Germany? |
04-20-2009, 07:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Europe | | Quote:
Originally Posted by chicagodoubler Guys, once again, can we please ignore all things "slinky."
His opinions on the merits of the bow are well documented, and we've certainly all seen his video on the technique thereof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yCddbPFnQ | is this for real???? he's got nothing to brag about!  |
04-20-2009, 08:41 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: Lakland, Genz Benz | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, that toddling town | | | |
04-20-2009, 11:55 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ekspain How long you been in Germany? | 15 years! |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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