The San Antonio Philharmonic is hosting blind auditions for the 2025-2026 season to ensure “equitable and inclusive practices in the orchestral community,” according to a statement provided by the orchestra.
In a blind audition, musicians perform behind a screen in an effort to ensure selections are made solely based on musical ability.
“This method has been shown to help increase the representation of women and people of color in orchestras,” Philharmonic officials said in the statement. “While there is still work to be done, SA Phil celebrates the equitable auditions process that contributes to the diversity and professional standards of San Antonio’s sole union orchestra.”
The San Antonio Philharmonic is the only orchestra in San Antonio that uses blind auditions for its selection process, officials added. However, they note that the practice is an industry standard shared by prominent orchestras including Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
“We believe that blind auditions are essential in creating a fair and unbiased selection process,” said Karen Stiles, auditions coordinator of the San Antonio Philharmonic. “By focusing solely on the artistry of the musicians, we aim to foster an orchestra that truly reflects musical excellence.”
San Antonio Philharmonic is also the only union orchestra in San Antonio, after having reached a collective bargaining agreement in 2023 with Musicians’ Society of San Antonio, Local 23, a chapter of the American Federation of Musicians. San Antonio Philharmonic is hosting blind auditions in part because of the recommendation of Local 23, a union chapter that’s operated in the Alamo City since 1897.
Positions now open for blind auditions include principal horn, principal flute and principal oboe. Preliminary rounds of auditions will be held in mid-May with final auditions held shortly thereafter. The deadline to apply is May 1.
For more information, visit the San Antonio Philharmonic website.
The audition schedule is as follows:
- Principal Horn
Preliminary Round: May 15, 2025
Final Round: May 16, 2025 - Principal Flute
Preliminary Round: May 17, 2025
Final Round: May 18, 2025
- Principal Oboe
Preliminary Round: May 19, 2025
Final Round: May 20, 2025
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This article appears in Mar 19 – Apr 1, 2025.