Before the auditions during my third year in a high school ensemble, each orchestra member was asked to complete a questionnaire. We were asked to circle the highest position we'd be comfortable accepting within our section. Detailed descriptions of the principal and assistant principal players' responsibilities were spelled out for us. (i.e. "The principal of the section must have few or no absences at rehearsals, set an example for the rest of the section in rhythm, intonation, and overall musicality. (S)he must also coordinate the fingerings and bowings for the section." "The assistant principal must assume the principal's responsibilities in the principal's absence.")
I still wonder how heavily that survey factored into our chair placements that season. If a musician didn't want the responsibility of being a section principal but played the best audition, was (s)he still named principal? If only one person wanted the responsibility of being principal but played the third best audition, would that musician have been named principal?
If you're an orchestra director, to what extent, if any, should a musician's confidence override the audition results, especially when the results are close?
