Some auditions have separate dates (a week or more apart) between rounds.
Is there any available info about which orchestras fund travel and lodging for the second date and which do not? I have seen the case where it's posted in the audition announcement that those who advance will have their travel for the second date covered, and also where travel ends up being covered despite it not being posted anywhere.
Is there any universal regulation that requires orchestras to fund travel for a second round, or is it pretty common for people to expect to pay for a premium plane ticket and fly back if they advance? I'm curious because I genuinely have no idea, and imagine this impacts a lot of decisions on whether to attend auditions. I assume you could always ask the personnel manager before signing up for the audition if this information isn't available, but it seems like the sort of thing that should be transparent before candidates apply.
There is no universal regulation for reimbursing audition travel, as orchestras set their own procedures and policies based on their own unique circumstances. It’s not typically included in an audition ad, but if you ask the personnel manager about it when you apply, they will tell you what their policy is. I’ve seen advancing candidates be offered partial flight reimbursement and a free hotel, and I’ve also seen advancing candidates expected to pay all of their own expenses no matter how many trips they had to make to continue their participation.
My experience is that these policies have little to do with dissuading candidates not to attend, and more to do with internal scheduling issues for the orchestra - i.e. when their Music Director will be in town for finals, when they can reserve the amount of days needed in their concert hall, finding a stretch of days that has minimal conflicts with rehearsals/concerts, and so forth.