Concert Seating
 

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Concert Seating for Wind and Brass Players

Part assignment for the concert has always been a controversial business.  This year, we intend to make this process smoother by clearly stating our policies and criteria.  Part assignments are made by the section principals with input and approval of the music director and the board.  If you are interested in leading a section, see the principals page for information on the duties involved.  Considered in the assignments are (in decreasing order of importance)

  1. Expressed interest in playing in the concert.  Registration is required.
  2. Prior experience in festival concerts
  3. Prior experience in festival reading sessions (from prior years)
  4. Audition (primarily for those who cannot participate in the reading sessions)  See the Auditions page for details on auditioning
  5. In cases where a position opens up after the assignments are made, then a replacement will be chosen from people who participated in the current year’s reading sessions.
  6. In the rare circumstance that when no applicants are deemed qualified for a position, the board or music director may recruit a musician who has not yet participated but is well known to be qualified.

Some examples:

Registered Played in Prior Concerts Played in Prior Readings Played Audition Played in Current Readings Seating Priority Result
Yes Yes No No Yes 1 Most likely will get a part
Yes No Yes No No 1 Most likely will get a part
Yes No No Yes No 2 May get a part
No Yes Yes No No 0 Will not get a part!
Yes No No No Yes 3 May get a part if someone
else drops out

These priorities do not specify which part a player will be assigned – we try to match the part to the ability of each player.  If we cannot tell if a person is capable of playing a part in the concert they will not get a part.  This is why we need some experience with each player whether it be prior concert performance, seeing how one plays in previous years readings or through an audition.  Wind and brass players who have no experience with the festival reading sessions or concerts and have not played an audition will not be assigned concert parts.  This policy is very close to the way parts were assigned in the past except that we are allowing for people who have no prior experience with us to audition if they so choose.  Playing an audition is not required if you have played in reading sessions or prior concerts, but you are welcome to audition if you feel that it will help us better assess your ability.  Also, note that we do often get people dropping out just before the concert as family and work schedules become clear – so do register for the concert and join the reading sessions – you may get their part!

Unfortunately, we sometimes get more people signed up than we can accommodate in the concert orchestra.   There are also occasions where we cannot find a part which fits a particular player's ability.  Please understand that we are doing our best to fit the large pool of players into the best concert orchestra we can and accept our sincere apologies if we cannot accommodate you.

Long term participation in the reading sessions is the best way to get assigned concert parts!

We hope that this new clarity of procedure and policy will make for an even better festival this year!

The Northwest Mahler Festival Board of Directors

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