The Met hires two new flutes
mainA huge gap in the Met orchestra has been filled with quality. Two years ago, both flute players resigned on the same day.
New there are two new signings: Demarre McGill, principal flute of Dallas, and Erik Gratton, principal of Nashville.
Both are on one-year contracts, as is usual for starters.
UPDATE: Message from the players committee:
‘We are delighted to welcome both Erik Gratton and Demarre McGill to the MET Orchestra this upcoming season. Both will fill one year temporary positions. These positions were filled by an invite-only audition, since time was limited, and as is normal for major orchestras in these circumstances. Denis Bouriakov has now resigned from the MET Orchestra, but Stefan Höskuldsson is officially on a one year leave of absence. In any case, we will follow our normal audition process this upcoming year to fill any vacancies on a permanent basis, which will be advertised in the International Musician four months in advance per our usual contract rules.’
-Jessica Phillips
Chair, The MET Orchestra Committee
Congrats to both! Of course Mr. McGill’s brother, Anthony, is principal clarinet of the NY Philharmonic and previously was principal clarinet at the Met.
Geez, McGill just barely got here in Dallas
Congrats to both! They are both excellent flutists. I curious as to why the orchestra decided to break from there usual tradition and hire both in what I can only imagine was a closed audition since there has been no posting of the job vacancy. I seemed to me that the orchestra prided themselves of fair and transparent audition practices in the past.
If I’m not mistaken, principal chairs can be filled on invitation.
They are hired for one-year positions at this point. Most orchestras will just appoint players for such positions, then open them to official auditions when the openings become permanent. (As explained by the musicians’ rep at the end of the article)
Shame on thé orchestra! This can happen just in US. As long time european Orchestra and artist manager this is a sign of a lack of audition culture. I am shocked to hear that from the MET too.
Ditto here in Europe.