Tonhalle-Orchester Opening Night

Tonight was the opening concert for the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich!  The concert was amazing!  They even served complimentary champagne and Sprüngli's chocolate to the audience members!  Below is the program from tonight.  

Donnerstag, 25.08.2011, 19:30 

Grosser Saal

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
David Zinman, Leitung
Maria João Pires, Klavier

Anders Hillborg
Cold Heat
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Konzert Nr. 27 B-Dur KV 595 für Klavier und Orchester
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sinfonie Nr. 3 Es-Dur op. 55 Eroica


Here is a link to the Tonhalle bassoon section!
https://www.tonhalle-orchester.ch/index.php?id=20&uid=51&L=0

David Zinman is an American conductor, and he studied violin at the Oberlin Conservatory! He has been the music director of Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich since 1995.  He will be holding a conducting course from March 30 to April 5 on the following pieces at ZHdK.  I will be playing the contrabassoon.  Looking forward to this!

Arnold Schönberg: Kammersinfonie E-Dur, op. 9
Richard Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll

The Music School

Above is a picture of me behind ZHdK in the flower garden.
August 10, 2011

During a two-semester academic year at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (Zürich University of the Arts), I will document varying audition system procedures of European orchestras.  I will meet for weekly bassoon lessons with Tonhalle-Orchester principal bassoonist and professor at the University, Matthias Rácz.  He will provide an essential bridge towards the artistic understanding of playing a qualified orchestral audition in Europe.  I will meet with Hans Agreda, contrabassoonist of the Tonhalle-Orchester and Artan Hürsever, principal bassoonist of the Zürich Opera.  These professional musicians will act as mentors and will provide knowledge of European performance standards and expectations.

Matthias uploaded a number of audio samples to his website, if you're interested in listening.
http://www.matthiasracz.de/hoerbeispiele.html

The Zürcher Hochschule der Künste offers the widest range of subjects and courses compared to any other Swiss higher education institution with elite faculty, differing specializations, and talented musicians.  My studies at the University will include a one-year voluntariat position with the Zürich Opera which includes regular rehearsals and performances. I also have the opportunity to perform with the Bern Symphony.  Both positions must be won through a professional audition process.  Valuable orchestral audition perspective will be gained during this music study in Zürich.  Skills acquired throughout this academic pursuit will allow for educated stylistic choices and audition proficiency in Europe.  I will learn further instrumental, theoretical, and musical techniques during group chamber music coaching, collegiate master-course involvement, and orchestral ensemble immersion.  Each of these components will contribute to understanding the systems of European professional orchestra auditions.

The Herbstsemester begins on September 19, and I am getting really excited!  

Let me know if you have any questions about the application process into the Hochschule. It's pretty straight forward, but can be intimidating when it's all in German. 

Orchestra Audition Questions

Hi Friends!

What would you like to know about orchestra audition procedures in Europe?  Are there specific orchestras that you'd like to know more about or that you're thinking about auditioning for?  Are there teachers or conductors you would like to me to interview? 

Here are some questions that I came up with.  

• What do you do to prepare for an audition? 
• For which orchestras have you auditioned?
• What audition system did the orchestra follow?
• What makes a successful audition?  Unsuccessful audition?
• Why do orchestras hold auditions?
• How is the orchestral job changing, if at all?

 Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading!

My Project Overview

This is my first post in my blogging attempts to document my time as a Fulbright Scholarship recipient in Zürich, Switzerland (2011-2012)!  I have spent the past couple of weeks familiarizing myself with the city. I begin studies as a graduate student at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künst on September 19!  I will work intensely with Matthias Racz, solo bassoonist of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich.  


My goal while living in Switzerland this year is to better understand American and European orchestral audition systems.  As the year progresses, I hope to share my video interviews with professional musicians, conductors, orchestra committee members, and students.  I also intend to discuss my personal observations, experiences, and opinions of the orchestra audition procedures in Europe.  I will post pictures and provide questions for open discussions.


Thanks for reading!