The Swiss flute player Sebastian Jacot, denied tenure after two years as principal at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, has just issued a cryptic assessment of his situation:
After 12 years in Germany—seven of them in Leipzig with my lovely colleagues at the Gewandhaus Orchestra and two with the Berliner Philharmoniker—the time has come for me to move on.
Things don’t always go the way we wish, and not everything is within our control. When we give others the power to shape our path, we must accept how they choose to use it. Their motivations or qualifications are not for us to judge. All we can do is always give our best, stay curious, open, and empathetic, and learn to adapt without losing ourselves in the need to please others—all while choosing kindness.
Having reached the final round for the same job three times over 11 years—and having won it once—I can’t tell you how appreciative I am for all I’ve learned, how much I’ve grown, how much better a person and musician I feel I’ve become—and I know there’s still plenty of room to grow! 
I’m happy and proud not to have lost my humanity to a job. And I’m deeply grateful for my wonderful, supportive wife, my family, my friends, and the fierce musical community around me. Together, we will keep building the future—with love and integrity!
Peace!
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