Classical Music’s Latest Fake Crisis: A Demographic Survey
Ah, here we go again — another crisis manufactured out of thin air. This time, it’s Norman Lebrecht over at his inflammatory Slipped Disc blog. For those unfamiliar, Slipped Disc is Lebrecht’s platform for sensationalizing anything related to classical music, often, in my opinion, with very little regard for nuance or accuracy. This time, the target is the Minnesota Orchestra politely asking applicants to fill out a demographic survey. Lebrecht complains,
And to Lebrecht, I say:
The Email in Question
Here’s the alleged smoking gun.
Dear Musician,
Thank you for recently applying to the Minnesota Orchestra. In an effort to make our musician recruiting more robust, we are seeking your assistance on gathering demographic information for those who have applied. According to our records, you applied for Section Second Violin in the winter of 2024. Please fill out the linked survey so that we may collect your demographic information. This information will not be connected to your name or instrument and will only be shared internally with our recruiting team. Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me via email at [redacted]. Thank you for your assistance as we gather this data.
A Simple Request, Not a Grand Conspiracy
First, the email in question is nothing but a polite request. It reads like a standard form letter that anyone who’s ever applied for a job in the last decade has probably seen. “Dear Musician, could you please help us gather some demographic info? It’s anonymous, it’s just for internal purposes, and it has nothing to do with evaluating your abilities.” Pretty straightforward, right? Apparently not for some people.
Second, the outraged post claims this is “selection on racial grounds.” Are we reading the same email? Nowhere does it say, “We will hire you based on your race.” It doesn’t say, “Please inform us of your demographics so we can disqualify or prioritize your application.” It says — and I quote — “This information will not be connected to your name or instrument.” It’s almost like the orchestra is just trying to understand who’s applying. Wild, right?
Demographic Data Collection: A Routine Practice
Collecting demographic data from applicants is a routine practice across industries, done specifically to ensure that biases are reduced, not reinforced. Employers want to know if their recruiting processes are reaching a diverse pool of applicants. It’s called progress. It’s called trying to do better. But apparently, even the hint of self-reflection and a desire to improve inclusivity is enough to send some people into a frenzy.
Missing the Point, Again
This particular brand of outrage is so tiresome. Here we have an organization in classical music — a field not exactly known for its diversity — making an effort, however modest, to understand the demographics of its applicants. It’s a baby step towards inclusion, and instead of applauding it or even ignoring it, we’re supposed to get up in arms because… why, exactly? Because the orchestra might — gasp! — learn something about how inclusive (or not) their recruitment processes are?
To make matters worse, there’s the implication that merely asking for this information (and not requiring it, by the way) is an affront. A threat. It’s almost as though some folks are allergic to even acknowledging that racial and demographic disparities exist.
The Real Scandal
So, here’s my take: the Minnesota Orchestra sent a completely standard, totally reasonable email. They asked politely. They emphasized anonymity. They explained its purpose. If this counts as selecting on racial grounds to you, maybe it’s time to get a grip — or at least read the email again, this time without the knee-jerk reaction.
The real scandal here isn’t the Minnesota Orchestra’s email. It’s that, in 2024, we’re still having to explain why collecting basic, anonymous demographic information is a perfectly normal, legal, and frankly responsible thing to do. Let’s applaud small steps toward progress rather than mislabeling them as threats.
