Hello everyone,

First of all, I want to say that this is a really awesome site. It has been very enlightening being a lurker over the last 2 months.

My husband and I are both classical musicians who started a family together after school. He has been freelancing in the Los Angeles area for ten years (whilst working a non-music day job) and is beginning the process of auditioning for a salaried orchestral position. Since we attended an unconventional music school, we didn't receive much guidance regarding resume preparation. I put together my husband's resume for him, using the guide from the Musician's Union and I have a few lingering questions as some orchestras immediately granted an audition and others wanted pre-taped screening.

1) First of all, how much weight does the resume hold in the final round?

2) What does a well polished resume include/show? My husband has performed in many per-service orchestras over the years, but not done much formal chamber music concerts over the last 5 years.

3) Does anyone ever include session work recorded with popular artists on their resume? Can this hurt a symphonic player to include session work?

4) In general, what kind of impression does it make on a committee when an applicant has been a freelancer for a decade? Do you assume they are not good enough to have made it in a full-time orchestra?

5) Is it ever proper for an applicant to resubmit a resume? I left out a few important items and wondered if we could resubmit the resume with the pre-screening tape.

Thanks for reading my post! I look forward to any replies.

Sara

quote:

Originally posted by jpeg jones:
1) First of all, how much weight does the resume hold in the final round?

It depends on the outcome, if two candidates are being considered and are of similiar ability.

quote:

2) What does a well polished resume include/show? My husband has performed in many per-service orchestras over the years, but not done much formal chamber music concerts over the last 5 years.

It shows training and relevant experience.

quote:

3) Does anyone ever include session work recorded with popular artists on their resume? Can this hurt a symphonic player to include session work?

I dont see how it could hurt.

quote:

4) In general, what kind of impression does it make on a committee when an applicant has been a freelancer for a decade? Do you assume they are not good enough to have made it in a full-time orchestra?

In general, resumes are used to invite people (or not). That can be a judgement call, and its not always well thought out. Assuming he IS invited, the resume wont rear its ugly head until the final round. By then, hey, he is in the finals. Most orchestras generally have them tucked away til then. If he is invited but doesnt make the finals, it wont be because of the resume. If he ISNT invited, its time to redo the resume. Keep in mind that some orchestras accept everyone, and some very few.

quote:

5) Is it ever proper for an applicant to resubmit a resume? I left out a few important items and wondered if we could resubmit the resume with the pre-screening tape.

It probably doesnt matter. If they dont want you, find somewhere that does.

If an orchestra turns down your resume, they dont want you. You can fight it and probably go, but personally I would have little interest in doing so. People have fought it and won, but its not going to happen often. Whatever they didnt like in the beginning will still be there in the end.

I wouldnt lose much sleep over it until you send a bunch out and hear responses. Do a test, send some to gigs you arent even interested in, just to see the reaction to the resume.