Help
Most of you know about the orchestra trouble by now... those that don't it's a long and involved story. Suffice it to say that the music department hired a new orchestra director at the end of last term to take over from Mark (the absolute best conductor I have ever worked with). We auditioned four applicants, ranging from fantastic to bottom of the barrel terrible. The guy they hired is was the bottom of the barrel -- not a very good conductor, and he was condescending to us (called us kids amoung other things), clearly designed his audition to impress the faculty and not us the students. We don't know how he got the job, but somehow he did. I have a theory, I'll tell you if you ask.
I told Dave (my music advisor, on faculty) that if they hired Eric, I would quit -- and I meant it at the time. However I was elected the orchestra manager at the end of last term, and I didn't have a lot of choice in the matter. Now, however, things are changing. I am trying to decide whether to stay or quit. I told Beckie (another board member, and leader of the flute section) that if things didn't improve by next wednesday (end of the drop period) that I was going to drop. She asked me to give it one more rehearsal. I agreed.
I got home after rehearsal last wednesday and was up until 130 talking to a friend trying to figure out what to do. I really object when people upset me to the degree that I cannot focus on anything, let alone be rational. I've been exhausted since as a result.
Some of his behavior we have to go to the department faculty, or even the college deans, to correct; as a student you cannot tell a professor that he is making inappropriate sexist remarks. However I have tried to compile reasons to stay and reasons to leave.
Reaons to Stay:
1. I enjoy playing in an orchestra
2. We have a strong flute section
3. The orchestra board is great and would be fun to work with
4. I want to help build up the new orchestra
5. I don't want to see Mark's work of the last 6 years fail
6. I don't want to abandon Beckie in the orchestra, and on the board
7. The idea of not being part of an ensemble is alien
8. Eric deserves a chance
9. My leaving puts the orchestra in more trouble (out of 80ish students last year, we have 8 returning members in a group of 30)
10. Eric may shape up
11. I am the orchestra manager
Reasons to Leave:
1. I am being asked to do much more work than I anticipated
2. Orchestra is only 1 credit
3. I have yet to have an encounter with Eric that isn't infuriating
4. The orchestra/Eric is not professional
5. Eric is extremely unorganized, and we are doing all his work
6. Eric's comments in rehearsal are inappropriate and make me (and the board) feel uncomfortable
7. Rehearsal time is not efficient
8. Without orchestra rehearsals, I have 3.5 more hours in the week to study, and one less credit
9. This orchestra is not fulfilling my expectations
10. I don't want to put my name on a group at this level of playing
11. Eric makes me nervous; I would not want to be in a room along with him
12. Eric is not a very good conductor
13. I don't have the time or energy to recitify this situation
14. I am taking too many credits to be involved in something that upsets me this much
15. The Amherst college orchestra is excellent, and I could join them instead
16. Eric is not doing his job
I'm not sure what to do. Eugene told me that if I'm in a situation that makes me that uncomfortable, that I need to leave. I am doing too much this semester regardless, and if orchestra remains this much of a drain on my time and my energy, I will have to quite no matter what my personal feelings on the matter are. Apologies for this being so long -- if I wrote down the whole story, it would be significantly longer.
Help?
I told Dave (my music advisor, on faculty) that if they hired Eric, I would quit -- and I meant it at the time. However I was elected the orchestra manager at the end of last term, and I didn't have a lot of choice in the matter. Now, however, things are changing. I am trying to decide whether to stay or quit. I told Beckie (another board member, and leader of the flute section) that if things didn't improve by next wednesday (end of the drop period) that I was going to drop. She asked me to give it one more rehearsal. I agreed.
I got home after rehearsal last wednesday and was up until 130 talking to a friend trying to figure out what to do. I really object when people upset me to the degree that I cannot focus on anything, let alone be rational. I've been exhausted since as a result.
Some of his behavior we have to go to the department faculty, or even the college deans, to correct; as a student you cannot tell a professor that he is making inappropriate sexist remarks. However I have tried to compile reasons to stay and reasons to leave.
Reaons to Stay:
1. I enjoy playing in an orchestra
2. We have a strong flute section
3. The orchestra board is great and would be fun to work with
4. I want to help build up the new orchestra
5. I don't want to see Mark's work of the last 6 years fail
6. I don't want to abandon Beckie in the orchestra, and on the board
7. The idea of not being part of an ensemble is alien
8. Eric deserves a chance
9. My leaving puts the orchestra in more trouble (out of 80ish students last year, we have 8 returning members in a group of 30)
10. Eric may shape up
11. I am the orchestra manager
Reasons to Leave:
1. I am being asked to do much more work than I anticipated
2. Orchestra is only 1 credit
3. I have yet to have an encounter with Eric that isn't infuriating
4. The orchestra/Eric is not professional
5. Eric is extremely unorganized, and we are doing all his work
6. Eric's comments in rehearsal are inappropriate and make me (and the board) feel uncomfortable
7. Rehearsal time is not efficient
8. Without orchestra rehearsals, I have 3.5 more hours in the week to study, and one less credit
9. This orchestra is not fulfilling my expectations
10. I don't want to put my name on a group at this level of playing
11. Eric makes me nervous; I would not want to be in a room along with him
12. Eric is not a very good conductor
13. I don't have the time or energy to recitify this situation
14. I am taking too many credits to be involved in something that upsets me this much
15. The Amherst college orchestra is excellent, and I could join them instead
16. Eric is not doing his job
I'm not sure what to do. Eugene told me that if I'm in a situation that makes me that uncomfortable, that I need to leave. I am doing too much this semester regardless, and if orchestra remains this much of a drain on my time and my energy, I will have to quite no matter what my personal feelings on the matter are. Apologies for this being so long -- if I wrote down the whole story, it would be significantly longer.
Help?