Youth Orchestra Auditions

14. January 2014 · Comments Off on Youth Orchestra Auditions · Categories: Youth Symphony

Local youth orchestras frequently have auditions in the spring. If you are an oboist I highly recommend joining one. Band is great fun, but orchestra … well … we give the A! I mean c’mon now, we are important! Every time one of my students gets involved in a youth orchestra I witness tremendous growth.

Below are just a few links to some local groups’ pages:

California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra audition page

California Youth Symphony audition page

El Camino Youth Symphony audition page

Peninsula Youth Symphony audition page

San Francisco Youth Symphony

Of course there are a number of other youth orchestras, so just go to my Youth Orchestra page to check them out.

Minnesota Orchestra

14. January 2014 · Comments Off on Minnesota Orchestra · Categories: Read Online

A bitter lockout that silenced one of the country’s top orchestras for more than 15 months ended Tuesday when musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra approved a contract that will bring them back to the stage in early February.

Hours earlier, the orchestra board had approved the terms of a three-year deal that cuts salaries and benefits roughly 15 percent. The average salary would drop to $118,000 in the first year, from $135,000 under the expired contract. There are small salary increases in the second two years, which musicians said would reduce the total cut to 10 percent. Musicians would pay significantly more for health care.

“The musicians look forward to going home to Orchestra Hall after 488 days,” clarinetist Tim Zavadil, lead negotiator for the musicians, said at a news conference Thursday evening. “We’re pleased there is a settlement, and we’re looking forward to getting back on stage.”

RTWT

I wish them all the best. What a time they have been through.

TQOD

14. January 2014 · Comments Off on TQOD · Categories: TQOD

I’m arguably the worst oboe player this side of the Mississippi