How does everyone feel about participants who are no longer in school/not recent graduates occupying fellowships in major festivals, like tanglewood or aspen?
Personally, I feel like it's unfair. Especially those who already have a full time job. I understand that these festivals are competitive and ultimately the playing speaks for itself. However, why take opportunities away from the current "hotshot" college horn players? Ultimately having older, employed participants in these festivals is taking opportunities from every college aged student auditioning for any festival. With adults taking the ****** summer positions, the top college students look elsewhere, and inevitably bump others out of spots that they also deserve.
On the other hand, I know that these festivals are premier and often free. They are more professional than they are amateur. However, I can't help but think about this.
As a young musician with an orchestra job, I feel that it is not unfair to apply for chamber/solo festivals if you qualify based on the age cutoff. Orchestral playing can make one's playing stagnant, and chamber can reignite that fire and love for music-making itself. Getting a job doesn't mean that you're done learning, especially from the greats who teach at many top festivals. It should be about collaboration, not competition.
People who have jobs can still want better jobs, and not all jobs are the same. Why should they have any less right to formative experiences and support than someone who is still in school?
Festivals were cancelled in 2020, and fewer auditions occurred in 2021 due to re-invited students. I would imagine that commmittees are now hearing auditions from a wider age range due to this. It is hard to make up for two to three years of missed musical and professional connections, experience, and travel. These learning opportunities are so necessary for musicians during and after school, especially as lessons are expensive and the opportunity to play with so many musicians is rare.
All of these festivals have age limits to apply. Anythinh beyond that would be even more unfair. Where someone is in their schooling relative to their age can be affected by a number of factors, such as transferring, homeschooling, or mandatory military service for countries like Israel or Korea.
These festivals, especially the free ones, are based on merit, not need. They (hopefully) look at your audition, not your age, professional status, etc. Get used to this, because once you enter professional world, you will encounter many more cases of people who don't "need" opportunities (ultra wealthy players, nepo babies, or students attending tuition-free schools) being picked over those who would gain far more and are equally qualified. The sooner you learn not to take that personally, the sooner you save your own sanity and just focus on YOU.