November 22, 2023

Billy Short, Principal Bassoonist at the Metropolitan Opera, recently made time in his busy schedule to answer a few questions about studying bassoon at Manhattan School of Music. Learn about his audition tips, current playlist favorites, and what he sees as unique opportunities for bassoonists studying at MSM.

What are the characteristics of a great audition?

Billy Short: Musically, I’m looking for two broad things. To start, I want to hear someone who has begun to meaningfully wrestle with the things that are really hard on the instrument: fundamental questions like (for bassoonists), is the low register sharp? Is the tenor register flat? Does this person play cleanly and with a beautiful, characteristic sound? Is there a dynamic range? To be clear, perfection is not the expectation – I just want to hear someone for whom it’s evident that they know the inherent challenges of the bassoon and have begun to really engage with the challenge of overcoming those challenges.

Every bit as important is that the auditionee takes that fundamental command of the instrument and puts it toward communicating a clear, committed musical perspective. There’s this notion that, if you want to be successful in an audition, whether for a school, a summer festival, an orchestra, or anything else, that you have to be perfect and boring. I simply don’t believe this is the case; for one thing, perfection doesn’t exist, but even more important, we want to hear a great young musician!

What advice do you have for bassoon players applying to MSM?

Billy Short: Know that we’re on your side! We all know what an incredibly stressful experience auditions are, and it might be cliche to say so, but we truly do just want you to do the best you can. If things work out, and we accept you into our studios, it’s because we’re excited for the opportunity to work together; if things don’t work out, though, know that that’s not a judgment on you as a person or your worth and potential as an artist. We just want to make sure that everyone who’s accepted is a good fit for the school at that point in their development, and that attending MSM will be as positive and productive as possible.

(Also, more slow practice!)

What do you love most about teaching at MSM?

Billy Short: The students! Selfishly, my students are a perpetual source of joy and inspiration; they constantly stretch me to do better, to reexamine my own musical beliefs and to continually strive to be the best teacher I can. Being around these incredibly gifted, earnest, dedicated young people, sharing with them the joy of discovery and the satisfaction of hard work coming to fruition, keeps me inspired and refreshed throughout the rest of my professional life.

What are some unique opportunities that MSM bassoonists receive?

Billy Short: Everything from access to a well-stocked reed room with all the machines you need, to being just a train ride away from Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and so many other spectacular venues and performances, as well as getting to work with a particularly collaborative and supportive group of faculty. We all feel that it’s our responsibility to work together for the benefit of all of our students, regardless of who their primary teacher is; we’re all behind you!

What are you currently listening to?

Billy Short: Top of my playlist right now is an album with the morbid title of “Josquin the Undead,” by Björn Schmelzer and Graindelavoix. I love Renaissance choral music, and this particular album takes an incredibly free, ornamented (but still period-appropriate) approach to music that’s ordinarily sung very “straight” and unornamented. I find the result incredibly moving – it’s one of the most expressively varied and emotionally intense albums I’ve heard in a long time!