Re: What is considered experience?


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Posted by Sean Chisham on January 28, 2004 at 18:15:10:

In Reply to: What is considered experience? posted by Frusterated on January 28, 2004 at 14:57:03:

Don't get too bent out of shape over it. Someone without resume experience is an unknown. Someone with resume experience is less of a risk. Doesn't mean the less experienced one is a lesser musician. Just means that she is an unknown.

For the job you mentioned, experience would be principal or extensive subbing with orchestras of near or even larger budgets/size like Indianapolis, Louisville, Houston, Vancouver, Atlanta, etc. Other experience might be major training ensembles like New World, Chicago Civic, or even the Tanglewood Fellowship Orchestra.

College teachers you have had and degrees you have attained are not of much significance, IMO, for auditions. These things are good for recital programs for the curious, but don't mean a whole lot to most committees. Depending on the job, you could also include WINS in major solo competitions like the TUBA solo comp, Falcone, etc.

If you have no real experience then your resume should be honest and reflect that. If you still believe that you are the best musician for that orchestra and are certain that you will win the audition then be more persistant about getting into the audition. Don't be difficult, in fact be cordial and know when to give up. But, if you REALLY believe that you are in the shape needed to WIN, not just "do well at", but WIN the audition, then followup with a phone call or two and maybe some other coorespondence via email.

If, on the other hand, you just want to audition "for experience" and are not too certain of your chances to actually WIN the audition, then I would allow the weeding out process to do its job and keep practicing for the next audition. There are, afterall, plenty of auditions every year to "get experience" at. Examples are the dozen or so summer festivals/jobs along with the few full time paying gigs which hold auditions every year.

Perhaps you ARE the dark sheep, but if you want to audition for reasons other than going all the way to a WIN, then I would accept the denial letter.


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