Does the CSO go through this process for all of its candidates for any position or does it apply primarily to the principal positions?

Forrester "Mac" McNeil

CSO is tight lipped. they are not saying anything. no announcements, no press releases, no nothing. how did you find that Marco and Balasz are the two finalists?

Boy, I hope that when other auditions sans Trumpet occur, we have as lively as of a discussion as this subject.

Barry Turner

Still no word yet. haven't seen anything posted on the CSO Web site. I would imagine they would post it in their press release section or the local newspapers will pick it up. I will keep checking them.

Blair - Tuba

Latest I heard was the CSO for the next month was going to have the finalists perform with the orchestra.

I can't imagine an orchestra that has a longer audition process than the CSO. But of course, they are the CSO. Does any other orchestras put their potential auditionees through such a rigorous process?

Well, I can imagine that Cleveland, NY, and Philadelphia are just as demanding. But as they say, Chicago is Chicago. I wonder why Phil Smith from NY didn't try out. Not that he's not happy with the NY Phil, just curious if he would make the cut.

That's like saying why didn't Charlie Schlueter up in Boston or Michael Sachs from Cleveland. They are just as good as Chicago! Hey, are we going to have a Chicago vs Cleveland/Boston posse?

Blair - Tuba

I don't think it is appropriate to judge one player over another. They contribute to the ensemble and community in many different ways and you just can't be in a position to say who's better individually.

But, collectively as an ensemble, I would put my money on Cleveland.

Rob Nesmith

Just to follow up on my last post, I heard that Balazs Nemes was also the winner of the MET job last year and left after 2 weeks. He played such a strong final audition and it was only later that they found out he had played the audition on a rotary trumpet when the Met uses C trumpets.

Don't know if I saw it on this thread but it appears that the CSO has NOT awarded the job to any of the finalists. I will assume that Mark Ridenour, the acting principal, has got the job for now. Maybe he will get to keep it.

I wonder how long the CSO will go until they hold the audition again. Could be until after Barenboim steps down which would be another year.

...(those trumpeters are a touchy lot....)

Mark Ridenour, the acting principal, should enjoy while it last. Perhaps during this time, he will grow into the job and then it is just a formality that the auditions be held only to result in him winning it. I wouldn't be surprised.

arrboy, didn't anyone ever tell you not to mess with trumpet players?

you're right angie. arrboy but watch out. we may use his baton to stir our soup at lunch time.

angie: "arrboy, didn't anyone ever tell you not to mess with trumpet players?"

...lookin' for a "Graemlins/warning triangle" here: No, no one ever warns you, you find out the hard way!

You gotta love 'em, though: it is such a pressure position. And if they can deliver the goods, nothing compares...

Here we go again. Prelim auditions for the principal trumpet position is scheduled for Sept with the finals in October.

Check it out

So, it will be interesting to see if they actually award the job to someone this time around. I actually didn't think they were going to do anything until after Barenboim has left but I guess Mark Ridenour, interim principal trpt is either not doing the job or they just don't want to wait another few years.

why would the orchestra wait for Barenboim to leave before hiring someone in the orchestra. seems to be that if there is an immediate need, fill it sooner, rather then later.

sinclair, that has been two paths. since the position is high profile, many are saying that the new music director that succeeds Barenboim should make the appointment but that is a few years away so I guess the orchestra is not waiting... and that's a good thing.

Or, maybe after Ridenour has been the stand-in, they haven't been 100% about him. not, that i am spreading gossip but that may be a possibility.