Meet Titus Underwood, The First Black Principal Oboist of a Major Symphony Orchestra

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Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 65

@otocinclus 3 жыл бұрын

update: following a blind audition, the committee was about to give Underwood a trial run. when they inadvertently found out that the applicant was Underwood, they changed their mind. Underwood had been struggling as a temporary replacement for the outgoing principal oboist (according to Giancarlo Guerrero and others). Underwood deserved his trial spot based on his performance at the blind audition, but the "racist" was the only person that stood up for him and the merit based process

@gamersgames7007 3 жыл бұрын

no GOOD deed goes unpunished! terrible!

@metroidfoosion73 2 жыл бұрын

To add even more clarity, the committee initially was hesitant to give Titus a trial, even before his identity behind the screen was exposed, because they weren’t very impressed with his audition.

@emjay2045 2 жыл бұрын

Just because one helps, does not give them the “right “ for a pass with abhorrent behavior

@exercisevanity4801 3 жыл бұрын

Everyone should check out the Washington Free Beacon article about racial anxieties in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra: "I get to walk away with integrity," said Zimmermann, who told the Free Beacon he regrets sending the email. But Underwood "has his whole career built on a house of cards. I feel sorry for him."

@papagiiigo2985 Жыл бұрын

I read it! It reveals what a piece of work this Underwood fellow is. He's a compulsive liar, and he ruined Zimmermann's career to advance his own. He's a sick individual.

@larsporsena7115 3 жыл бұрын

No...there is a full recounting of his 'rise' to the position in the Washington Free Beacon. Check it out and then come back and listen to this.

@coloraturaElise 2 жыл бұрын

I think that a big part of this whole bad situation in Nashville has to do with perceptions. Mr. Underwood, being a new player and entering without a good record, was I'm sure understandably worried and feeling insecure in his position as the most exposed woodwind player and soloist in the orchestra. So he probably took Zimmerman's efforts to help with the section sound personally, and from there, it's easy to see how today's climate of racial division did the rest. If Mr. Underwood had taken the time to research Mr. Zimmerman's large KZbin output, he could have seen how meticulous of s musician he is, with EVERYONE, not just with new oboe players. It's out there for anyone to watch, at his channel "Clarinet Jobs". It's too bad this mutual understanding did not occur, and it's affected the entire orchestra and the whole reputation of orchestras in America.

@android927 2 жыл бұрын

Based on what has been revealed since this video was initially published, doesn't most of this video legally qualify as slander?

@jordancole7685 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, no. Zimmerman fits into the governments definition of “public figure”. When classified as a public figure, the standards for slander or in this case libel, are much much looser.

@stevenjohns152 3 жыл бұрын

A $50,000 award along with a Medal of Excellence? The Sphinx organization should be giving these funds in the name of these "Award Winners" to music schools/organizations to help supply instruments, accessories, and to cover fees for youth symphony, competitions, and travel. Mr. Underwood has a a full time performing job, and a new teaching post. The Sphinx org giving money to people already IN their careers, is POINTLESS!!! The ones NEEDING the funds should be getting it- what a waste of money. There are currently young adults in the Sphinx system that can't get the funds they need from Sphinx to travel to the very things Sphinx is SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING! Give the funds to under-represented organizations, and a plaque from the person being recognized as having had an impact!!! Well in this case, $49,986.00 to the deserving organization, and $14.00 for a tuner for Titus.

@jeffreyrimmer6449 2 жыл бұрын

Odd that the racism allegation is part of an introductory video of a player who decries “race” being brought up in relation to any black player.

@christianityisunstoppable4155 2 жыл бұрын

He should google narcissist once a week for a year.

@hi9117 6 ай бұрын

I’ve worked with him personally, and let me tell you myself, he is FAR from a narcissist. He is a really sweet and genuine person. He is literally just standing up for his rights that he fully deserves. Maybe not be a racist? Just a thought.

@georges6387 3 жыл бұрын

A position built on a lie. Read the Washington Examiner for the backstory on this shameful episode.

@susanbloom4153 3 жыл бұрын

The recent live stream of both the Dvorak Wind Serenade and Schubert 8 with Nashville Symphony proves, along with the Washington Beacon article, that Titus is unable to do his job well. Horrible tone, no phrasing, bad intonation, FAKING (leaving out a few parts and having his 2nd oboist cover him in the Dvorak). Forget about skin color, the profession has nothing to do with that. It's about whether or not you can do your job. This should really apply to ANY field, but yet leftists don't like to hear that. Funny how the people that are complaining at every turn, are HACKS themselves.....Classical Music will only continue to suffer because of this sort of behaviour.

@charlesdexterward7781 2 жыл бұрын

Titus Underwood is the Jussie Smollett of classical music. Give in to his temper tantrum or he'll cook up a race hoax against you.

@mh4zd 2 жыл бұрын

"Racializing" a relationship is not a species of racism (as defined by being in any way against, phobic towards, or superior towards, the race in question). The degree of racializing, taken at face value as he describes it, has numerous potential sources: 1) "Geeking" out due to a formed high regard for said race, 2) Discomfort due to high exposure to racial tension in conjunction with a high degree of conscience, 3) Lack of exposure to said race, possibly in conjunction with an "innocence" with regards to the knuckle dragging psuedo-elevated etiquette with regards to things like phenotypic curiosity, 4) Antagonism towards the aforementioned stupidity such that one "leans in" on it, 5) Just being a dork. Being a dork is not being a bad guy. You can take this stuff too far people, and not every idea bespoke with lofty and complex theory is ultimately good. Standing in the way of natural curiosity isn't helping us, and neither is making people anxious about how to interact. If you think, "Hey, it's not that hard..." you're right - it's not that hard if you simply eradicate all curiosity and all reference to things that you may assume the other person has knowledge about due to how they look. Curtailing in this direction is well and good. The problem is that one can never know if any amount of it will trigger the assumption of this "racializing" trope. That's a problem, because it makes potential connection between people less likely.

@wut982 5 ай бұрын

ok what is his name

@slimzim 2 жыл бұрын

Here's my response to this garbage video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKa4foenjp2caqs

@patriciasaluti5084 4 жыл бұрын

Obeo is so hard but so Beautiful to hear. Yessss

@patriciasaluti5084 4 жыл бұрын

I played Clarinet

@patriciasaluti5084 4 жыл бұрын

I love the OBOE

@TheAnnaFisher 3 жыл бұрын

Congratulations!!!!

@khunopie9159 3 жыл бұрын

Diversity hire

@gamersgames7007 3 жыл бұрын

all I hear is too much wokness and bad intonation :) If even ORCHESTRA positions are no longer based on true MERIT...WHAT's next? Oh I know...my 5'8" 155lbs butt should play in the NBA :) WOOT!

@samf1702 4 жыл бұрын

Inspiring! Keep up the amazing work and strength Titus!!

@bdlip_ink 4 жыл бұрын

Magnificent!

@threedogsandacamper503 4 жыл бұрын

Thank goodness for your sister’s encouragement. There’s lots of great saxophonists, but really fine oboists are relatively rare.

@patriciasaluti5084 4 жыл бұрын

GOoD for you. Dammmm right

@jeffkeith5159 4 жыл бұрын

Oboe is a very difficult instrument! One must learn to make their own playable reeds; one must be disciplined with their breathing as so much of their air must be held in as it is slowly released through that tiny double reed; and their embouchure muscles need to develop strength to hold the same tight position for long periods while playing... But in the LA area there is Charles Owens who is a fine oboist (and he is African-American)... there was the late, great blues oboist Yusef Lateef... and the late, amazing Eric Dolphy played the oboe in his junior high school years; and the avant-garde saxophonist / woodwind artist Anthony Braxton had oboe as his main instrument in his undergrad years at Roosevelt University (as a philosophy major); and Sun Ra's lead alto sax man Marshall Allen doubled on oboe; as does Sonny Simmons (along with English horn), and I think Hubert Laws doubled on it once in a while many years ago; and the superb musician Makanda Ken McIntyre was a fine oboist... I'm sure there are many others we can name beyond these amazing musicians (Paul McCandless; Walter Parazaider of "Chicago" fame; Earle Dumler; Bob Cooper...) But I applaud Mr. Underwood for the discipline to follow through with the rigorous practicing and study a conservatory demands, and then to pursue the auditioning to be accepted into a good professional symphony orchestra! Wow! I never had it in me to do all of that! I'm so sorry he had to put up with that crap from one of the orchestra's other players, too! Good lord, there are some idiotic musicians out there!

@EnwardSnowman 2 жыл бұрын

Nah fam no cap just blame rice ism an get money bro

@emjay2045 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like two different issues here. One , diversity hire … if he is not qualified should not have the position. TWO: Just because one helps, does not give them the “right “ for a pass with abhorrent behavior. Racism should not be tolerated in the work place PERIOD.

@evanburrows1697 2 жыл бұрын

1 - he isn't qualified. 2 - the accusations against Zimmerman were false. Titus is a guy desperately trying to justify a place that he couldn't earn via a blind audition.

@hi9117 6 ай бұрын

@@evanburrows1697are you even in the classical music world? If you don’t have basic understanding of classical music and stuff, then you shouldn’t comment. I have met him and talked to him a lot and he is a very genuine and sweet person who is very qualified for his position, he is one of the best oboists in the country. And secondly, Titus is not the type that would make stuff up like that so I doubt what you’re saying is true. Racism is very real and still very present in the classical music world unfortunately.

@catherineleavy1606 4 жыл бұрын

I don't see color this makes me so happy cause I know I see everyone for who they are not the color of their skin it's flipping 2020 soon to be a huge Jamestown

@michelleclark8099 4 жыл бұрын

The first black this and that in the year 2020. Hahaha hahaha. It’s gotten old. Black peoples are going to break away. The box 📦 is too small.

@NobodyNowhereKnowhow 2 жыл бұрын

That is so horrible. What does skin color have to do with technical proficiency? I’ll go ahead and answer my own question, absolutely nothing. I couldn’t care less if my musician is black, or white, or interracial, or green, their ability to play the performance is why we came to see the ensemble. Glad that this person was disciplined and let go and not vice versa.