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.