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I’m beginning to understand the importance of finding the best private lesson teacher early on. Then, the best possible teacher/professor in college, graduate school, and so on...
So when it’s all done and the college loans are coming in, the purpose of all this preparation, was to hopefully result in a better job/position? Are the truly talented musician/students overlooked that didn’t graduate from one of these “brand name” colleges? I’m coming to the conclusion if your child does not choose to attend the top colleges or conservatories, then he/she should find another profession. I understand one should not choose an obviously lacking institution. But what about 3rd and 4th tier schools? Do employers, symphonies (or whatever the future dream may be) give first consideration to the student from a higher ranking school over a 3rd or 4th tier? I don’t read anyone actually admitting this but it “feels” this way. It puts a whole new slant on college.
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All of the answers to this question, have been true. In an orchestral audition, the audition itself is the most important thing, outweighing almost all other factors. However, the responses have neglected to mention one factor in the audition process where education is a very important factor: the resume. Virtually all orchestral auditions today require potential applicants to submit resumes (and usually pre-screening tapes) BEFORE being invited to the preliminary round. Applicants are typically invited based on their experience in other orchestras. Younger applicants (people who are still in school or recently graduated) are judged almost exclusively on the schools and festivals they've gone to, since they rarely have much professional orchestral experience. Adding to this problem, students at the big name conservatorys often have more experience subbing with orchestras, playing in regional groups, and going to the big music festivals like Tanglewood, Aspen, Music Academy, Schleswig, Verbier, etc. In short, it is true that an applicants playing is the most important factor in an orchestral audition, but the applicant still has to be invited to audition.</p>