Last week the Boise Philharmonic appointed Robert Franz to be their next Music Director. I know Robert well, he succeeded me in Buffalo and I showed him around before he moved there. We have been in touch from time to time. I was a candidate in Boise also (although not in the final running) and upon hearing the news I was very happy for him and for them…wait a second I’m not supposed to feel this way, aren’t we all supposed to be competitors, fierce rivals, we are conductors, surely there must be some mistake…..have I lost my competitive streak?…..
Maybe I used to think competitively when I took an audition, but the further I’m removed from my college years, the more I have realized that even though searches and auditions for Orchestra jobs are set up as competitions for the applicants, for an orchestra itself, it’s more about their future success and relevance by finding the best fit with people who give them the best chance to move their mission forward. It’s not just about who will win, but who will work out in the long run.
I remember in college, week in week out, there were all kinds of instrumental competitions with the winners receiving kudos and some kind of prize such as cash or a book that they’ll never read. Material gain and bragging rights, that was it. Translate this to after graduation and it’s still about the prize and the bragging rights. Worse, we are taught to develop our careers by treating positions as stepping stones, and some people for their whole careers keep walking on them, never being satisfied because they were told not to be!
How about the idea that a win in a college competition, jury or audition means that the student gets the chance to represent the school in a concert at a senior center, in front of children, at an art exhibition opening etc…. The real prize could and should be the chance and honor to engage the public. Becoming a music director or a musician in an orchestra means that we have earned the opportunity and the privilege to positively effect people’s lives. I think in college this is the kind of competition that should be encouraged, the opportunity to win the chance to engage the community around you. The revolution would be to re calibrate arts academies into community outreach organizations, that train students not just in the skills to effect their employment prospects, but also in the mission to affect positive change with their skills. Further to this, if say a music academy puts energy and commitment into creating the demand, the relevance and the necessity for the music itself, that extra demand for music in a community may one day translate into the possibility of more employment prospects for their graduating students. Giving music and edge will give musicians an edge because those skills will have more value.
Back to Boise, I was engaged as a guest conductor and then before getting to go they started their search and so since I was coming they asked me to be a candidate and I was honored to accept the opportunity. I had already programmed the concert and it included the Schumann Symphony No.3. which was a request as a Schumann symphony had not been played there in nearly 20 years! Now that it had turned into an audition, Tony Boatman (the Executive Director and a friend) gave me the opportunity to change the program. This was a dilemma, the Schumann is glorious, yet not exactly what one might chose for the one and only shot at a job, especially in my case as it was going to be the first time for me to conduct the work. I decided very quickly to leave the program unchanged because I felt it was important and the right thing to do to honor the request. So it turns out I didn’t get the nod and in my mind it had nothing to do with the repertoire choice anyway, they found someone who represented the best fit for them. I had a great week there nonetheless, they are a terrific organization, great people and it’s a wonderful place. I didn’t lose anything but instead became the conductor to reintroduce a Schumann Symphony to a community. I call that gaining something! I don’t know the other candidates or their work, Robert is a fine conductor, musician and person, plus with his experience he understands and embraces the importance of an audience and community connection. In my mind that makes him a great choice! I wish them much success.
Well said Ron! And we did enjoy you here in Boise. I really respect your views, and positive outlook on the musical world. You are an inspiration!
Bravo, Ron. Like Willy Wonka said to Charlie, you won! You got it! That’s the answer! It’s all about the music and the audience, not the stepping stone or the glory. It must be this way. People will remember an individual performance much longer than ‘yeah, I think he won 1st or 2nd in the competition that year’. Music as a language will always have a long lasting effect on the listener, and the repertoire we offer must hold the key to that result. In some cities, I would never offer piece ‘a’, and in other cities, piece ‘a’ fits their needs. I’m glad you brought the Schumann to Boise–Robert Schumann nods his hat to you, dear maestro.