I have no idea why the bullying occurred. At first, I was welcomed by everyone aside from the director, who reluctantly took me on as a wind player. He asked me if I knew what a ritardando meant as if I was some kind of idiot. I explained I know it means to slow down, that I missed it because I was nervous. I majored in music, I know how to ritard, thanks.
Strange things started to happen. I'm on medication for an illness that has reactions to heat, so I wore cooler shirts in the summer--off-the-shoulder shirts I thought looked nicer than t-shirts or tank-tops. People insulted me, insulting my appearance and that I was hitting on the director, who parked his SUV next to me and would follow me out of the parking lot on more than one occasion. I told my girlfriend, who told me to take it with a grain of salt as the dude seems harmless. I think he does seem harmless in physical terms, but when I was at orchestra camp, a rumor started to spread I was following him. I sat down and ate some snacks after the concert and then tried to go to my car as one of the orchestra members said, "There she goes, following the director!" He had left the building a few minutes previously.
During normal rehearsals, he made loud comments to the string section making fun of me, although he wouldn't use my name. I would sit and practice the my instrument early at orchestra camp in the children's room, where the winds had rehearsal. Every morning at the same time, he came down and talked to me when I was alone, for things that weren't important. For examples, to give me copies of music we already had.
I enjoyed playing in the concert and the kids, the adult members, and our instructor were awesome. The whole thing, however, was overshadowed by the director announcing all of the members of the orchestra at the end of the concert except for me. His omission of my name in a public venue was his way of telling the me I was no longer in the orchestra. I realize that the purpose of me going to the orchestra camp was to fund the orchestra $250 and then throw me in a dumpster.
I kept being told the second chair had health issues, she was going to leave and I would replace her--yet it seemed that the second chair had no intentions to leave. I had referred to myself as a sub at one point, and the manager stated that no, I was officially part of the orchestra, it's just that 4th chair doesn't play all the time.
Months later, it was suggested I re-audition and now I had to specifically audition for the Rite of Spring, when I was made to believe that I was desperately needed.
It wasn't just the director. A group of principals were aggressively following me to the point the kids noticed, and I think one of principals went through my phone. After the concert one principal was hovering over me as I sat on the couch and I had a panic attack. Then members at regular rehearsal made fun of and complained about my playing. Often my instrument went out of tune, but it was found out to be a bad repair and I replaced it with a new back-up. I'm taking it somewhere to be re-fixed tomorrow. I made the mistake of giving it to someone who wasn't certified with professional brands.
I wish people would stop blindly accepting that is okay behavior for orchestras, whether it be community or professional. This is psychological violence witnessed by people in public and I have no idea why nothing was done.