To: Columbia Music Department, Dear Colleagues and members of the Search Committee for the Fritz Reiner Position in Composition, We are a collective of voices (including potential candidates) for the above mentioned position, who want to express our puzzlement regarding the way this search was conducted by the Department, knowing that composer Dr. Marcos Balter was recently appointed — but not knowing how. We have no issues regarding Mr. Balter’s appointment; neither are we are against the choice made by the Department to prioritize this worthy and talented individual. We simply want to express our disagreement with a process conducted in secrecy and not announced to the community at large. It is surprising, concerning, even baffling that other candidates of similar worth (a large pool of potential/talented candidates) could not be considered alongside the candidature or Mr. Balter. We are not concerned here with the prerogative of the Department to choose whomever it considers a good “fit” for the post. That should not be an issue and we agree that it is your right to act with that purpose in mind. However, in this instance, this process inverts the very objective of an open exchange of ideas that is the basis for a liberal democracy which Columbia’s core liberal arts orientation exemplifies. Instead, in a gesture that might be viewed as an attempt to guarantee inclusivity, the secrecy of the process appears to use ethically questionable maneuverings, which are paradoxically the very tools of inequality that ought to be considered unjust. Being that this position requires not only technical expertise in the creative realm but also scholarly accomplishment — replacing Fred Lerdahl is a high bar! — we believe it is the obligation of the Department to choose with a clear focus on improving the attractiveness of Columbia as a magnet for outstanding individuals. Mr. Balter is certainly someone whose excellence and merit are noticeable. But the choice should be viewed against a backdrop of other worthy candidates whose appointment to that position at Columbia University also might be justified, by virtue of the merits of their own profiles. For its lack of transparency, Columbia’s status, reputation, and future promise all suffer, because of this post not being opened to receive a large pool of applicants of diverse tendencies and unexpected creative potential. It also sets a poor example. Ideally, potential candidates, even if not ultimately chosen, permeate a process of selection, if there is transparency to ensure that their work is at least seen and analyzed by a pool of colleagues and experts. Instead, because of the nontransparent fashion in which the search was conducted, the chosen candidate, Mr. Balter, might not be able to justify his position as a legitimate outcome of a fair competition, which it should be noted finally and importantly, is a highly prized touchstone for whomever can gain legitimate access to it (the Fritz Reiner Professorship held for so long by the eminent Fred Lerdahl). Therefore, we want to convey here our disagreement regarding the lack of transparency by the Columbia Music Department in conducting this process. Once more, we praise Mr. Balter for being chosen and by writing this letter we do not intend to mar his accomplishment. Sincerely, The Pool of Potential Candidates for the Fritz Reiner Position in Composition at Columbia University
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