[yankeedame]

The NY Philharmonic actually do their auditions with the candidate behind a curtain, so that the judges don't know their sex, etc.

Many moons ago the Detroit Symphony did the same thing. Applicants never spoke, had numbers instead of name, and auditioned behind a curtain,etc.

Despite all this the vast majority of successful applicants were still turning out to be white, and most of those male. After a few years of this the DS junked the entire idea of "fair auditions" and openly began/continues maintaining its orchestra via Affirmative Action.

With the predictable results.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Many moons ago the Detroit Symphony did the same thing. Applicants never spoke, had numbers instead of name, and auditioned behind a curtain,etc.

A terrific, meritocratic policy. Too bad it didn't last.