FIRST OFF . . .

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, facing an effort to block its funding on the basis of racism, announced Tuesday that it has hired its second black musician, a bass player. The symphony has hired part-time musician Richard Robinson, to join in a full-time position this fall. Robinson’s hiring came after two Detroit legislators threatened to block the symphony’s annual state allocation of $1.2 million. The officials charged the orchestra, based in a predominantly black city, was racist because it has employed only one full-time black player for the past 12 years. The orchestra had contended that its system of choosing members through “blind” auditions, in which players’ identities are not revealed, was the fairest way to choose musicians. Members of the orchestra agreed to waive the usual selection process so that Robinson, 25, could be hired full time. State funding has been released to the orchestra.