Moving Up

[TrumpetEnthusiast1]

Being fairly new to the trumpet, I still can't understand why a section player wouldn't take a shot at a higher chair in their orchestra. Would they lose their job if they lost the audition? I think any member of the CSO trumpet section would do an outstanding job as principal. Tage Larsen said he beat out 100 or 200 for the utility spot.

[johntpt]

Interesting question! When a principal position opens up is any orchestra, the first players who would want to consider auditioning would be the other members of the trumpet section. Years ago it was fairly common for a section player to "move up" to the principal chair, sometimes without even a formal audition procedure. For example, when Harry Glantz switched from the NY Phil to the NBC in 1940, William Vacchiano moved up to principal from a section position he had held for several years.

Today orchestras have very strict union-regulated audition procedures that often preclude the easy movement of a section player into a principal position without a formal audition. In fact, there are only a few current principals in the USA today who were former section players in the same orchestra. I believe Susan Slaughter is one, Don Green is another, as was the recently retired Thomas Stevens. Phil Smith began his tenure in NY as "Co-Principal", becoming "Principal" after the retirement of John Ware.

When a principal position comes open, many conductors see this as an opportunity to bring in a new player, a new sound or style, and to leave their mark on the orchestra. Also, many conductors have a difficult time seeing a section player filling the principal role. If an orchestra has a good 2nd trumpet player, the conductor may want to leave that player in his current job and bring in a new voice for principal.

In the case of the CSO, at least 2 of the current section members were involved in the finals for the principal position. They are both wonderful musicians who would make excellent candidates for principal, but for some reason Maestro Barenboim is looking elsewhere. As both of these players have tenure, their current positions would not be in jeopardy due to taking the audition.

This analysis is, of course, my own. Other opinions and experiences are certainly welcome!

JU