Playing With Artistic Endurance

Last week, I was talking to my sister-in-law, Cynthia Phelps, the principal violist of the NY Philharmonic. At one point, I asked Cynthia what the NY Philharmonic looks for when hiring new violists. Her answer was amazing:

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​"We look for artistic endurance. We might have an 8pm concert one night, and a 10am rehearsal the next day. You know, we're all tired, and I don't think Bruckner intended for his symphonies to be played four nights in a row. But we have to bring the same energy, and love, and complete commitment to artistry to every single performance and rehearsal.

In auditions, we look for that kind of endurance. When I hear an audition, I’m listening for the variety, the love of every note, the long phrases…of course, we also look for the technical things. But when someone has that passion for every turn of phrase, it comes through. That’s what I look for in auditions.”

Major orchestras go through so much repertoire, with so much variety, and on such a busy schedule. Each of us needs the physically capability to play all of the notes well, day after day. But it’s another thing to be ARTISTICALLY up to the task. As professionals, it’s critical that we bring the same care to every run, whether it’s the first rehearsal, or the last performance on a long tour. Anything else isn’t fair to the audience or our colleagues.

I have a lot of students taking the audition for San Diego today. It's temping for candidates to worry about playing all of the right notes at the right times. But I think that all of the candidates will play better, and communicate their artistry more effectively, if they remember Cynthia's message. Don't use the notes to show off your technique—use them to share your personal artistic endurance.
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