Exclusive: Minnesota Orchestra selects musicians on racial grounds
OrchestrasWe have received a message from the orchestra to applicants, making it clear that their racial and ethnic identity will be taken into consideration when selecting those who are suitable to play in the orchestra.
Can’t think where we last saw an orchestral audition process based on racial selection.
Here’s what the orchestra needs to know before they let you in:
Racist (and stupid). I hope that whoever came up with that bright idea will be unselected on the same basis.
This is in the running for one of your most misleading headlines yet. It clearly says that demographic information will not be connected to applicants’ names/instruments so will have no impact on their audition results. Orchestras should do this to find out if they’re attracting a wide variety of applicants or not. If you learn you’re not, you can adjust where you’re advertising and look into what could make a position more attractive to musicians who are deciding not to apply. The ultimate goal is to have a big pool auditioning so that you can select the best musician for the orchestra.
And you believe ‘it will have no impact on audition results’?
I’d sure like to see that linked survey. And I like the new use of the word “robust.”
This sort of thing is surely flirting with illegality. Discrimination based on race and various other considerations is surely illegal in most western countries? Not that they haven’t got away with it, but this makes it official policy.
Collecting demographic info is common practice in corporate America; companies do it to monitor potential discrimination in the hiring process. As is clearly stated in the email, the info is not tied to an applicant’s name/instrument and is only for internal records.
There’s also no indication that filling out the survey is required. And for what it’s worth, demographic information can include categories other than race.
Norman, in the US businesses can ask for race/gender/handicapping condition/veteran status information of people applying for a job but this is voluntary. There is nothing in the Orchestra’s message saying that this information “will be taken into consideration” to decide who gets to audition.
“This information will not be connected to your name or instrument”. Either your reading comprehension isn’t great or you’re being disingenuous.