I woke up one Saturday in February to find a huge article in the New York Times about the abundance of available oboe positions among the nation’s top symphonies.

As a member of the “next generation” of oboists that was mentioned in the article, I took issue with some of the stuff that was said. In particular, that there is any shortage of qualified players to fill the aforementioned positions.

So, I got up off my chair and wrote a response. Little did I think it would actually get printed.

You can imagine my surprise when I got an email from the Editorial Desk, and, well, the rest is history…

Unfortunately, you have to pay to read the entire article in the archives, but you can find a snippet of the original article here
(registration required).

At any rate, this was my response:

EDITORIAL DESK
In Search of the Elusive Oboist? Try Respect

Published: February 18, 2005, Friday

To the Editor:

Re ”Suddenly, ‘Oboist Wanted’ Signs Are Everywhere” (front page, Feb. 12): I am an oboist of the next generation. I was educated at one of the top music schools in the country and have played with professional orchestras throughout the world.

I have many talented, artistic and imaginative oboe-playing colleagues. We have one thing in common: we have no interest in subjecting ourselves to the audition process until the current system is replaced by one that recognizes musicians for being dynamic artists and not mechanical music boxes.

There will never be another John Mack or Joseph Robinson. It is time that our country’s symphonies stop trying to re-create the past and instead focus their energies on creating an audition process that truly helps them select the artists they want and deserve.

Maryn Leister
Chicago, Feb. 15, 2005

Published: 02 – 18 – 2005 , Late Edition – Final , Section A , Column 4 , Page 26