<p>This article is absolutely worth the read, if you have the time. It discusses the process of a percussionist, as he prepared for the most recent Boston Symphony percussion audition. (It also discusses the story of the previous BSO percussionist, a school friend of his, who had not received tenure... hence one of the vacancies.) The article is particularly effective at highlighting many of the frustrations and "worst fears" often experienced by classical musicians, and honestly may make your stomach churn a bit. </p>
<p>The</a> Audition</p>
<p>This article was so popular yesterday, that it the resulting traffic actually crashed Boston Magazine's servers! If it doesn't load, simply keep trying periodically!</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing! To take the glass half full approach - he was gainfully employed as a musician before the audition. Yes, a great deal of work for his $55,000. But he was being paid for doing the thing he loved most. Not everyone can say that about their job.</p>
<p>But one can’t have the “Sucess” without the “Desire”, so his wish is a moot point…</p>
<p>Surely nobody can pretend that practicing for 20 hours a day for 10 days is normal, even in this cut-throat world of orchestral auditions. An interesting article, but I hope both percussionists featured are getting some sort of help to put things in perspective - both of them are making choices that are clearly negatively impacting both their personal and professional lives.</p>
<p>Excellent point, fishee. And the article itself certainly has to have an even more negative impact on the life of the man who already had issues over being denied tenure.</p>