
In order to eliminate gender bias, many orchestras use blind auditions in which the candidates play their instrument behind a screen.

In order to eliminate gender bias, many orchestras use blind auditions in which the candidates play their instrument behind a screen.
ISTR that blind auditions were declared “discriminatory” because the outcomes didn’t precisely match the government-defined divisions in the population. Cleveland Symphony, from what I remember.
I’d love to know that’s a misunderstanding or has been overturned.
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The Pacific Symphony Orchestra still uses blind auditions, but the article is missing something important. Musicians are hired for their playing ability so a blind audition focuses on the ONE thing they are being evaluated on, and an offer of employment does NOT confer “tenure”, so if they sound great but clash with the other members the new hire can still be let go. It takes a year or so to be granted tenure.
Blind auditions make sense for job that has such a one-dimensional skill requirement, but anything more well-rounded will still require face-to-face evaluation.
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I would think blind auditions would be the only hope Bill Schmalfeldt has of ever getting a job.
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No chance. They would still have their hearing…
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