r/orchestra • u/Impossible-Humor-454 • 5d ago

Community Orchestras squeezing out their older but still excellent players

/r/classicalmusic/comments/1x421qc/community_orchestras_squeezing_out_their_older/
3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

4

u/Agreeable-Refuse-461 5d ago

Define “older”. Especially for winds and brass, there is a big difference between 50 and 60 year olds and 70 and 80 year olds. Physically, the muscles and collagen just aren’t there to meet the demands of the instrument. The work to maintain a baseline standard is much more.

There’s also a need to have younger people involved so that the group exists in 20 years. The community jazz ensemble in my area is all men over the age of 70 except for 2 or 3 people. Is this ensemble still going to be going in 10 years? Is not having anyone remotely close to their own age going to attract a 30 year old to join? If you aren’t paying the members, members are joining because it’s a social activity that’s fun.

All that aside, age discrimination will exist until the end of time. It’s why the pros have screened auditions.