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Double Bass Double Bass Audition Winners

Um, I think it was a joke Calvin. Easy boy.

I don't care. There are often these silly opinions on Talkbass that make it seem like a conspiracy for whoever wins a job. If anything I find it slightly disrespectful towards other audition takers and the eventual winner of the job. If you win a job by doing your homework and studying with various members of the section you're auditioning for then POWER to you.
 
RLY!
 

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That's absurd..Taking a few lessons from a member of the section you're auditioning for is fairly standard when it comes to udition preparation. You can't conclude that someone got a job solely on the fact that they did their homework and studied under that orchestra's Principal or Section Member.

In some orchestras, yes you can conclude this.

C'mon guys, I'm not saying that every single orchestra is like this but the naivety that those orchestras that consistently hire the principal's students are somehow doing this as a coincidence is nuts.

I'm not saying that the winners are very fine players, but there are many many other fantastic players that never stood a chance at some auditions that go on to the finals or beyond of other auditions where the politics aren't so present.

From what I've heard of audition results, it is not "absurd" to point out that NY, Pittsburgh and Boston are probably decided before the auditions even take place. To pretend that it doesn't happen here or in any other industry is what is really absurd.
 
I've never auditioned for a professional orchestra. I have hired (and fired) people in small businesses and I advise people about it sometimes.

Given that
a) There is a deep and broad pool of generally equally-talented applicants;
b) The position has a high likelihood of turning into a very long-term post;
c) The job requires a high level of interpersonal interaction; and
d) The job requires a high level of musical similarity

It makes perfect sense for people to hire folks who are awesome musicians and have demonstrated some likelihood of both musical similarity and interpersonal sympatico. Lessons is one such demonstration.

I mean, what are the other ways you'd find that out? Go out drinking after the playing? Guess (and maybe guess wrong)?

Back to those who know. I'm out.
 
It makes perfect sense for people to hire folks who are awesome musicians and have demonstrated some likelihood of both musical similarity and interpersonal sympatico. Lessons is one such demonstration.

I mean, what are the other ways you'd find that out? Go out drinking after the playing? Guess (and maybe guess wrong)?
How about a two week trial?

Back to subject, word has it that Alex Hanna passed his trial in Detroit.
 
From what I've heard of audition results, it is not "absurd" to point out that NY, Pittsburgh and Boston are probably decided before the auditions even take place.


I don't know what you have "heard", but you should probably stick to only commenting on things you actually know. I have worked closely with Jeff Turner and am a former student of Ed Barker and can say without a doubt that they are two of the most fair and honest people I know. I also know that they both have very distinctive styles of playing and it only makes sense that, in an audition, they would seek out a player who already shares the same sensabilities.

As for New York: I have never worked with anyone in the section, but it seems to me that if they were rigging their audition then they would have already hired someone.
 
you guys are all a bunch of clowns....
we all know the only people who can win auditions these days are students of Gary Karr:spit:

Yes, I believe it is their unique thumb position technique that separates them from the rest of the field in the all important "complete concerto" round of the audition. It also comes into play in the "complete sixth suite at pitch" round that has been preventing so many quality bassists from winning jobs.
 
A reminder of why this thread exists:
Does anyone feel it's worthwhile to track who wins what auditions and where? I think it'd be great, just to see where folks are coming from and how bass sections (around the US, at least) are shaping up.
What I'm interested in is tracking who wins auditions currently, as-they-happen! The last five or six auditions have been won by my colleagues here at IU, and before that it was a stream of Hal Robinson/Curtis Institute students winning the jobs... I'm curious to track who they're studying with and what their individual playing styles are like, just to see what the "standards for being chosen" are like at auditions these days (broadly speaking).
 
I told Bruce a couple of months ago, speaking about the Louisville audition, when (god forbid)an undergraduate won. I said "he was doing the right thing, on the right day."

It's pretty simple.

In tune.
In time.

OK, you got it?

Now, bring some personality to the table.