Clarinetist Sues Knoxville Symphony: Claims Anti-DEI Stance Cost Him the Job After Top Audition (Video)
James Zimmermann, who served as principal clarinetist of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra for over a decade, was fired in 2020, according to his assertion, due to his stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
The Tennessee-based musician has an impressive portfolio that includes a performance at Barack Obama’s second inauguration and numerous credits in video games and movies. But talent is not enough in the DEI world.
Zimmermann is now suing the Knoxville Symphony after he was denied a job despite unanimously winning a blind audition for Principal Clarinet.
The Washington Free Beacon has extensive background on his firing from Nashville.
Zimmermann was also the principal clarinetist of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra for more than a decade—that is, until the orchestra fired him last February over accusations of racial harassment. To hear his accusers tell it, Zimmermann had insulted, intimidated, and even stalked his black colleagues, going so far as to menacingly drive by their homes. Human resources had already warned the clarinetist in 2019 that his behaviors could be grounds for dismissal, the orchestra claimed in its termination letter to Zimmermann. His refusal to heed that warning was ostensibly why he was fired in 2020.
But six of Zimmermann’s ex-colleagues and the orchestra’s own documents tell a very different story. They suggest that Zimmermann himself was the target of a witch hunt, instigated by a black oboist whom Zimmermann had stuck his neck out to help.
Despite the injustice, Zimmermann attempted to return to the stage in 2025. He attended a blind audition for Principal Clarinet for the Knoxville Symphony, which he won unanimously.
But two days later, Zimmermann shares, Knoxville Symphony’s CEO, Rachel Ford, called to tell him that he would not be receiving a job offer.
Zimmermann shared details of his lawsuit against Knoxville Symphony, noting, “These orchestras can’t keep throwing out their best players to make room for diversity hires and putting race and politics above merit and skill.”
Zimmermann asserted on X, “BLACKLISTED: In September the Knoxville Symphony invited me to their blind audition for Principal Clarinet, which I won by unanimous vote. Two days later their CEO called and refused to hire me, citing my ousting from the Nashville Symphony six years ago for resisting DEI as the reason, and instead gave the job to my runner-up, an obvious DEI hire who’s still in college.”
“In response I sued the Knoxville Symphony two weeks ago for a year’s salary plus $25k for the 100 hours I spent practicing for the audition.”
“This isn’t just about money though, it’s also about pushing back against these symphony CEOs who continue to put race and politics above merit and skill.”
“Someone has to save our symphonies from being sacrificed on the altar of ‘diversity’ and no one is better positioned to do it than me. Wish I didn’t have to do it but I’m doing it anyway.”
“I was excited to take the stage with the Knoxville Symphony but instead I’ll see them in court. If Knoxville thought I’d walk away from this they were sorely mistaken.”
Watch:
BLACKLISTED: In September the Knoxville Symphony invited me to their blind audition for Principal Clarinet, which I won by unanimous vote. Two days later their CEO called and refused to hire me, citing my ousting from the Nashville Symphony six years ago for resisting DEI as the… pic.twitter.com/fmM0B9Lzl1
— slimzim (@jameszimmermann) January 5, 2026
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