Estonian wins Berlin Phil low note
Orchestras
Paula Ernesaks from Estonia has won the audition for the low horn position in the Berlin Philharmonic, formerly held by Fergus McWilliam.
Paula, 24, joined the Karajan Academy in 2019.
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She’s an awesome horn player! Wonderful pair for Sarah Willis! Congrats to her, well deserved!
And btw, despite her name and Estonian etnichally, she was born in Finland and is basically Finnish educated hornist so I might say her as Finnish-Estonian or vice versa. But not to secondary things – huge day for both Finland and Estonia!
Finally, a second woman in the brass section. Sarah Willis’ vlog is always a bit ironic because she strongly promotes the orchestra while ignoring its low representation of women–the third lowest in the world and not even half the percentage of representation in orchestras like the Zurich State Opera, NY Phil, or London BBC. This lack of women in the Berlin Phil is almost a taboo topic in Germany–a tainting of the country’s great national symbol. So from that perspective, a second woman in the brass section at long last is progress.
Dear Mr. Osborne! We all know that German speaking countries have their own “not so good” history in appointing female players in orchestra. That includes your wife’s case which was horrible.
How ever, times had change and luckily there are still changing better and better and actually Berlin Phil has not the similar way like e.g. Vienna Phil (which has changed a lot in past decade) and they have always looked the best possible player – a right musician which actually Fergus McWilliam has told about their audition process. They don’t watch gender – they look technical skills, player’s artistry and what kind of person he/she is and how he/she will fit with the other players. They toured a lot so if you like play and hanging with them, they must also feel the same. Plus also player has to fit in their “BPO sound”. Many things. So if you really want hire the world best and suitable players – you have not to watch gender. Summa summarum: past is the past, times changed and now just waiting new passionated BPO musicians
“Rob”, I agree that orchestras must take the best and most suitable musicians, which is exactly why we must watch against discrimination which allows for inferior men to take precedence over women candidates.
The Vienna Phil is hiring women at a notably faster rate than the Berlin Phil. And we see various world
class orchestras that already have close to 50% women like the National Orchestra of France and the other orchestras I mention in my above post. Are we to assume that German women are for some reason inferior to the women in these other countries? Obviously not, which tells us that discriminatory factors are at work and that we must continue to bring them to an end.
“Gender! Gender! Race and gender!!! Nothing else matters!” Seek help…
So… they gave it to their disciple…what a surprise!
I have nothing against Paula but this orchestra swamp is very stinky.
Would you want to check what you’ve said? How about e.g. Delepelaire, McDonald, Ottensamer, Weidmann, Zust, Schoch and so many other current and past players? Are they (and so many others) just “disciples” who had give chair because there aren’t better players?
And would you say that same to MET orchestra horn section (3 former disciples by living legend Julie Landsman)? Or many players of Concertgebouw?
You have to be a pretty good player to get into the Berlin Phil Academy, so she would have credibility going in. And since they don’t use a screen it’s certainly possible that they favor those students. But most likely she has also been subbing in the orchestra and showing she can do the job.
Interesting that the Berlin Phil still has relatively few women members; it’s deceptive on the DCH because most weeks you see a lot of female Academy students as subs. At least they’re training them up for other orchestras.
It’s not nepotism. Students often play alongside or replace their teachers because the sound/tone and musical sensibilities are very similar within the teachers studio and this sound fits within the ensemble’s sound.
About time they had more of US in the horn sections around the world! 🙂
From an AMERICAN 3rd horn, we women are great brass players! 🙂
(with sincere apologies to beloved Dennis for using a form of your name as my user name, but some of you are really mean to women brass players here at this site)
Horns up!
https://www.rbb-online.de/fernsehen/beitrag/John-Williams-dirigiert-John-Williams.html
Another tale of “things gone well.” And bravo for bringing in the young talents! I look forward to hearing her.