Diversifying the Symphony

First of all, I am very excited to be part of this Virtual Discussion Panel. Today I will comment mostly on the hiring of new musicians.

I am very proud of the audition process in the Kansas City Symphony. We screen all rounds and only meet the candidate once they are offered the position. So our decision is solely based on what we hear and nothing else. I’m not sure I feel comfortable hiring a new member of the orchestra not based solely on merit. I feel like I should maybe relate this to medicine. Do we want our children to have the best surgeon in the state or should the doctor be the best according to the makeup of the community? The answer to that question is that we want the most qualified person caring for our child. Though music is not a life or death matter, we still want the most qualified colleague.

As far as marketing an orchestra goes, management should embrace the ethnic and racial makeup of its current and future musicians but should not base artistic decisions on how they look on stage. We are in a profession that requires us to choose the most qualified performer. I want the audition committee to hire a colleague that will improve the overall sound of the orchestra. I feel that artistic decisions should be solely based on the art form.

Orchestras are becoming more diverse everyday and we just need to encourage young people of all races to follow their dreams. We as members of orchestras should want to engage all of our neighborhood children, and management should encourage these activities with Community Outreach programs. I remember the excitement I felt as a high school student performing with our local orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, in a side-by-side concert. The interaction I had with members of the Florida Philharmonic horn section helped me realize that not only could I join their orchestra, but also I would be welcomed.