I think comments should be much more available than they are. It was stressed to me in school and further study that you should always ask for comments. I have asked for comments for every audition I have ever taken, and received a reply from less than half of the organizations. I have especially received no comments for any round I have played past a preliminary round (Semis, Finals). I’m not sure if this is a “luck of the draw” experience that only I have had, but I feel as though all great players tell people to ask for comments, but then when people do ask for comments as they are told, the same great players who stress this do not provide any feedback. It’s always said that some committee members will write cold, unhelpful comments (Yes, No, Good, Bad, Check mark, etc.) but I think this should be more stressed by the organization to the committee, and the committee should make it a point to be helpful as possible, within reason to the people who are currently climbing the ladder, as they all once had to.

In a trumpet audition for a major orchestra back in March, the committee was split in 2 and some people played their prelim round in a small, carpeted side room with dead acoustics, while others played in the orchestra’s hall. Some people advanced who played in the side room, but this created a playing field in which some people’s quality of playing was being judged by their ability to play in a dead room, and others’ quality of playing was being judged by their ability to play in a big room. This process rubbed me the wrong way, and any situation in which candidates are not judged under equal circumstances can be quite frustrating.