Getting younger all the time.

Detroit Symphony has announced Alexander Kinmonth, 21, as its new principal oboe.

He’s at Juilliard, expecting to graduate next month.

Alex beat 105 candidates to win the seat that Don Baker vacated after 41 years.

We have been informed of the death today of Donald Thulean, conductor of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra from 1962 to 1984 and a familiar and popular figure on the US orchestral scene. Donald was 85 years old.

He is the subject of a sculpture by Anna Mahler, the composer’s daughter. Outside the US, he conducted in Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and New Zealand.

This little zero-pay offer is going around town. Your views?

Dear strings

Might you be interested to play in the event detailed below?

Wed 15 April: Gershwin / Laura Mvula
The Angel Orchestra is looking for extra string players for a one-off rehearsal on Wednesday 15 April.

Venue:                 St Silas Church, Risinghill Street, N1 9UL (Angel tube)

Times:                   7.30-9.30pm

Music:                   Gershwin songs (arr. Troy Miller)

Conductor:         Troy Miller

Singer:                  Laura Mvula

Payment:            We don’t pay you and you don’t pay us J

Laura Mvula is a well-known soul singer – I am waiting for confirmation that she is definitely coming, but it looks likely …
Troy Miller is an American composer and music producer who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse (he is Laura Mvula’s producer).

This rehearsal is in preparation for concerts they are doing with the Philharmonia and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Please let me know if you can make it: peter@peterfender.co.uk

Please feel free to forward this request to others who might be interested. Thanks.

Those estimable missionaries of the Nederlandse Bachvereniging have reached the book of Matthew in their quest to record the complete JS Bach on video.

The performers are the Netherlands Bach Society and the Kampen Boys Choir, conductor Jos van Veldhoven.

Click here for full performance.

They are advertising vacancies here.

We ran this story over Christmas. Any further thoughts?

Many in the profession choose Germany. That’s where there’s the most work in the greatest number of opera houses.

It’s also convenient for the rest of Europe. (If a little dull, some say).

Russians migrate to Austria.

Switzerland is popular if you’re in the right tax bracket.

Britain is favoured for its centrality and connectivity (though not for its airports).

France for its fees, and its food.

The US has pluses and minuses.  The Met overshadows the rest and you can’t jump in to Europe at 24 hours notice.

So where would you choose to live as an opera singer? And where would you avoid?

What’s the best (and worst) place for an artist to live in 2015?

This is one of the remarkable conclusions of a 1990s study of violin students in Berlin. Read here.

h/t: Zsolt Bognar