community orchestra

[Mary Ann]

I've been told by a friend that he's resigning his position in the last orchestra I played in, and that I could look at the web site for audition information. When I joined that group (actually for the second time) I went to a rehearsal sans instrument, talked to the tuba player and told him if he ever needed a sub, just let me know. He said, "Can you come next week?" And I said, "Sure." So I showed up next week, played the rehearsal and was told I was their new tuba player as he had resigned as soon as he found out I was willing to play.
That was an "audition as the tuba player in the section in the orchestra during real life." Now --- what I have done is write to whomever is on the other end of the web site and said I would be delighted to "audition" in the section during a rehearsal, since tuba players are not soloists and auditioning as a soloist doesn't mean much. I doubt anything will come of it, but I'm not going to go do a solo audition because I just don't, any more. They may find some college kid who is typical in the initial enthusiasm and the gradual not showing up because of being too busy. Or they may find someone willing to go play a solo for them which does not demonstrate in the slightest their ability to lead the trombone section from the bottom, help the laggards stay on the beat, etc. Too old now to really get all bothered about much of anything any more. It would be great fun to play. When I get the rejection letter I'll once again volunteer to sub, and maybe down the pike a way I'll find myself the tuba player yet again.

[MN_TimTuba]

MaryAnn,
Good luck to you in this!
Yes, in most of these community groups being reliable and able to play in a group setting means much more than one's ability as a flashy soloist. I like your group audition idea.
Since your Norwegian Star is long gone what is your latest tuba acquisition?
Enjoy!
Tim

[bort2.0]

MaryAnn,
Good luck to you in this!
Yes, in most of these community groups being reliable and able to play in a group setting means much more than one's ability as a flashy soloist. I like your group audition idea.
Since your Norwegian Star is long gone what is your latest tuba acquisition?
Enjoy!
Tim

My orchestra position had apparently been vacant for a while before I showed up. The group had also been on hold for a good while due to Covid stuff. I told the trombone players that I was shocked at the opening being available -- and that typically we tuba players wait and wait for these things to maybe open up, or take a sub call when you can get it.

I was asked to show up at the first rehearsal, and was given a folder. At the end of my first rehearsal, the conductor (and the trombone players) all said "you're coming back next week, right?"

Sadly(??), I think the age of community group auditions could become less and less common... because there will be less and less people who care enough or want to join the groups, and they'll take what they can get.

Congrats on the new position! You'll have a great time, and I bet it felt great to get back in the chair!

[2nd tenor]

I wish Mary Ann luck and like her stance on things, but sometimes you have to go with the flow and accept the flawed ways in which things are done too. A bit of mix and match dependant on the situation.

If I wanted to play with my local Orchestra then I could, but that’s basically because no one else wants to do so - there are better opportunities to play elsewhere. However if I wanted to play for an Orchestra further a field then I’d never pass the audition, just one seat and it only takes a few able and arty types chasing it to close off the opportunity to me.

Recruitment processes at different skill levels in the Brass Band movement vary. Tuba and Trombone players are usually in short supply so the bar tends to be lowered for us but it can still be significant. I’m not a great mover between Bands but have moved several times and done so on my own terms. The way I’ve done it is to visit Band rehearsals to see whether I’m up to what they play (so their standard and their music) and whether I like the group; I’ll also deputise at events and otherwise assist other Brass Bands. That visiting and deputising has helped me improve my playing and given me an insight into other groups and whether I’d want to join them. Showing an interest in that way has almost always resulted in a ‘quiet word’ along the lines of ‘if you were interested then we could probably fit you in here’, etc. I think that the better way because both parties (group and player) have a much much better idea of what each can offer the other, and what each expects of the other too.

So, as you can see above, I follow the Mary Ann way and I feel that it’s worked for me but accept that my preferred way of doing things might not always be available - in which case: audition; don’t fret about the outcome; and (assuming a win) move on if the group doesn’t suit.

[Nworbekim]

i'd like to have a shot on tuba with an orchestra. i played upright in college and as only 1 of 2, i wasn't given the chance on tuba, even though i felt like i could outplay the guy that did. there's a community orchestra nearby that is a combination of a smaller college's string players and one's in the community. i got an invitation but i knew some of the college tuba players had been playing and i felt like they should have first choice and get the experience.

if i'm asked again, i think i might...

i don't know how the difficulty of the parts might compare to what i've been playing in the community bands. i haven't heard that orchestra play so i don't know the level of music they do.

[bloke]

Unless the strings are hosses (which happens sometimes with community orchestras in mega-sized metropolitan areas), I've always thought that the wind sections (for the first two thirds of the rehearsals) could meet in another rehearsal hall and play wind-band literature (reading for fun, or preparing for a separate concert).
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Once the strings are squared away pretty well (and with the winds - finally - separately rehearsing their ORCHESTRA parts - with the other winds and percussion - the LAST week BEFORE they are brought in to rehearse with the strings) then bring in the winds and percussion.

Otherwise, the winds/percussion sit-and-sit, while the music director works to get the string parts squared away.

...and yeah, Mike...You'd make a great "symphony cat"...just bring a good book, or post "look at me being a symphony cat" pictures on fb.

bloke "thinking of ways for more people to have more fun"

[MN_TimTuba]

i'd like to have a shot on tuba with an orchestra.
if i'm asked again, i think i might...
i don't know how the difficulty of the parts might compare to what i've been playing in the community bands. i haven't heard that orchestra play so i don't know the level of music they do.

Mike,
Give it a shot!
I'm much more of a band guy, but I have really enjoyed the years I've played with several community orchestras and 1 semi-pro orchestra (a year-long gig while the principal tuba was out with some surgery). While band transcriptions of orchestral music can be fun, playing with strings is often even better, and for me, personally, the orchestra setting helps me to focus on the finer points in my playing. I take it more seriously, I guess. Rather akin to playing in a quintet. But that's just me.
If you do venture out, tell us about it.
And good luck to you!
Tim
PS. As a side note, in reference to the 'audition' thread elsewhere, I (strangely and unexpectedly) never auditioned for that semi-pro group. The music director had heard me play elsewhere, asked some people who I was, then just invited me to fill in. Got 'the hand' a few times at first, because I guess FF in orchestra music is different than FF in band music (or maybe because the principal tuba played a 186 and all I had was my 345). All in all it was a great experience for me. So, just do it.

[Mary Ann]

This is one of three non-pro orchestras here; this one tends to do more pops, along with war horses and the usual young people's contests to be a soloist with the orchestra, and tuba pops parts are, for me, anyway, WAY better than concert band parts, and while not up to brass band Eb parts, don't typically consist of two notes followed by 238 measures of rest followed by one more note. You get to do a lot of oom-pah and moving bass lines.

I got to play Pictures in the first orchestra I was in, and have done a lot of neat stuff over the years I did play. At my age I really don't want a heavy schedule and this would fill the bill. However, you never know how far someone will get their shorts in a bunch when you say you're not going to do a "traditional sit-down-while-they-stare-at-you" audition. And I just don't care that much any more. They are auditioning three conductors over the course of the year; the one who promptly appointed me tuba player ("Mary Ann can sure blow that tuba") died the same time I left, basically. He was a trumpet player and understood brass.

I think I've reached the age where "hardening of the categories" is in full force.