Audition Hotline Promotes Fairness and Cooperation

by Nathan Kahn, Negotiator, AFM Symphonic Services

Can you imagine:

  • An orchestra that held an audition during 100 degree weather in a facility with no air conditioning?

  • An orchestra that provided warm-up facilities for the candidates outdoors in cold rain?

  • An orchestra that had violinists warm up in one building, then had the candidates trudge outside through the snow to the audition hall with their unprotected instruments, and then would not allow the candidates to tune on stage?

  • An orchestra that requested a specific orchestral solo on an audition list, and the music for this selection was only available if the musician bought the complete orchestral parts for the work?

The preceding are actual audition allegations received on the AFM Symphony Audition Complaint Hotline. We've been there; we know what it feels like to have spent endless hours preparing for an audition and a great deal of money to get to the audition, only to be treated unfairly in this stressful process. We advocate on behalf of audition candidates to the greatest extent possible.

Many candidates are simply trying to get admitted to a live audition.

Despite a widely held belief to the contrary, there is no AFM bylaw that requires any orchestra to grant any candidate a live audition. Procedures for symphony orchestra auditions are contained within an orchestra's collective bargaining agreement, or in other internal orchestra policies.

The AFM Symphonic Services Division also assists orchestra personnel managers in the scheduling of auditions, so that different orchestras can avoid scheduling auditions for the same instrument on the same day. This helps maximize audition opportunities for musicians. This service is free to the personnel managers of AFM orchestras. If your orchestra's personnel manager has not yet availed themselves of this service, please have him/her contact me at nathankn@afm.org.

What is it that audition candidates want? The response is usually the same: a fair chance to compete for an orchestral position, and to be treated as a human being in the process. What does it take to achieve this? A little forethought and empathy.

Musicians who have symphony audition complaints should call the AFM Symphony Audition Complaint Hotline at 212-869-1330, extension 221.