Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra Auditions
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2019-20 SEASON:
AUDITIONS FOR VIOLINISTS, VIOLISTS AND CELLISTS! A new season is about to begin! Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic’s first rehearsal is on 8 September, 5-8 pm. We'll rehearse: Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto Gwyneth Walker’s “Let America be American Again” (will be with narrator Charles Williams reciting Langston Hughes’ poem) and Virgil Thomson’s Symphony on a Hymn Tune. Rehearsals: Sunday evenings 5-8 PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill, Alexandria, VA. (the 3rd month’s Sunday, 2-5 PM) Two Concerts: Sunday, 3 PM, October 13th at GW Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria, VA and Saturday, 4:30 PM, October 19 at the Unitarian/Universalist Congregation of Fairfax Oakton, VA Interested? email wmpassoc@gmail.com, or call 703-799-8229. |
Are you a professional, semi-professional or advanced amateur musician, capable of rapidly learning and playing classics and cutting edge pieces with a few intensive performances? If so, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra may be the place for you. With approximately 60 professional and semi-professional musicians, the WMP performs varied, complex, and demanding music that can challenge even the most accomplished instrumentalist.
Please see Artistic Director James' message below to prospective players about what it's like to play with the WMP. Auditions for Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic are conducted on a rolling basis. We have current openings for talented violinists, violists, and cellists. We also maintain an active sub list for all sections (winds, brass, percussion and strings). WMP’s season schedule, from September to early June, requires a significant commitment. Rehearsals are usually on Sunday evenings and once a month in the afternoon due to venue use conflicts. Rehearsals are held at Immanuel Church on the Hill on Seminary Road in Alexandria. Our five season concerts are performed twice, once in Oakton VA and once in Alexandria VA usually on Sunday afternoons. There are no rehearsals during the December holidays and on Easter Sunday. If interested in stepping up to the challenge, please call 703-799-8229 or email wmpassoc@gmail.com for more info and to schedule an audition. Your resume is not required, but should you choose to submit it, please send it to: WMPA Artistic Director Ulysses S. James Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic PO Box 16442 Alexandria, VA 22302 or email it to: wmpassoc@gmail |
Message to Prospective WMP Players from Ul James, Artistic Director:
There are many fine classical music groups in the DC metropolitan area. It may be difficult for you to determine which group would be best for you. Here is some information that might be of help. Our season offers many tonal 20th century and contemporary works, music that is challenging and exciting to perform. I also relish conducting great gems of the past.
I consider it a duty and a joy to honor and play music of living conductors – thus we have an annual composition competition open to composers from the entire east coast of the United States. I am far more interested in making impactful, deeply emotional and meaningful music with perhaps some flaws, than to have perfect performances of less difficult, less interesting works. I assume that anyone seeking a chair in Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic (WMP) is someone who welcomes the excitement of performing challenging music and that he/she will find time to prepare diligently for performances.
The orchestra is composed of musicians who are there because of their love of music and the challenge of performance; they conscientiously do their best. I know of no exclusive cabals, no competitive politics or destructive behaviors in this group.
I believe WMP is a place where members can make music with their entire being, where we are stretched to accomplish perhaps more than we thought we could. It is a place that is nourishing and supportive, yet challenging and demanding, where motivation comes from the music itself, not from coercion or competition.
Sincerely,
Ul James
There are many fine classical music groups in the DC metropolitan area. It may be difficult for you to determine which group would be best for you. Here is some information that might be of help. Our season offers many tonal 20th century and contemporary works, music that is challenging and exciting to perform. I also relish conducting great gems of the past.
I consider it a duty and a joy to honor and play music of living conductors – thus we have an annual composition competition open to composers from the entire east coast of the United States. I am far more interested in making impactful, deeply emotional and meaningful music with perhaps some flaws, than to have perfect performances of less difficult, less interesting works. I assume that anyone seeking a chair in Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic (WMP) is someone who welcomes the excitement of performing challenging music and that he/she will find time to prepare diligently for performances.
The orchestra is composed of musicians who are there because of their love of music and the challenge of performance; they conscientiously do their best. I know of no exclusive cabals, no competitive politics or destructive behaviors in this group.
I believe WMP is a place where members can make music with their entire being, where we are stretched to accomplish perhaps more than we thought we could. It is a place that is nourishing and supportive, yet challenging and demanding, where motivation comes from the music itself, not from coercion or competition.
Sincerely,
Ul James
