Quandary with instrumentation listing of a composition - inquiry

Hello, YoungComposers community,

So, I ran into a bit of a hard spot, where I foresee two options (so far), and both have their very ugly drawbacks.

I am writing a piece for Violin, Viola, Piano, and percussion: Vibraphone doubling Wind Chimes doubling Cymbals (by 1 percussionist, who will very rarely play these instruments at the same time; and, those 2 or 3 times they do, it is for bit a brief passage and completely coordination-friendly).

I plan on having the percussion section as optional. My dilemma:

1 - If in the sheet music I list it as "optional", that would be a slap-in-face insult to the well-learned, highly-talented percussionist who may happen across my piece. It will injure my chances of getting my piece performed, because I'm discouraging players to feel like their instrument is insignificant.

2 - If in the sheet music I didn't list it as "optional", I'm making the piece a whole lot less accessible to performers: I'm requiring many more instruments, some of which are notably less common and not as readily available than just Violin-Viola-Piano (not to mention that a Vibraphone is costly and a bit of a granuloma in the behind to lug around!!).

No matter which of these two options I take, a bite in the behind will always be ready for me. So, what do you think would be a good solution for me to alternatively take instead?

Thanks and cheers!!

Just give two versions then, just like Mozart's Symphony no. 40 with and wthout clarinet version.

Hmmm. I don't think this is a problem. It does seem like the best solution.

(In the collaborative program that I'm composing for, I am working with a fix-minded, opinionated director, who gives preferential treatment to 'attractive' favorites; and otherwise finds any reason to dogmatically 'scold' others for "not adhering to the instructions". I would sorely fall into the latter category: it seems for petty reasons, I get onto his bad side easily.), and he wouldn't be happy that I submitted two scores; even if it really is just one score with two different versions.

The instructions stated "one compositional score only".

The director is looking for more instruments and highly recommends us composers to write for larger ensembles (than just string and piano); only so that he can scold me for writing for optional Vibraphone and Wind chimes, when he stated these instruments may be available but isn't confirmed. He would then scold me if I wrote two different score versions that include and exclude it. (Despite the fact that he completely laughed along in obvious support of his "top-notch" composers for writing for two Vibraphone lines, while not knowing at the time if it would or wouldn't be available. He can't have it all three ways.)

The reason I'm staying in this summer program and not opting out is because I won't let one irritating faculty member spoil it for me; and my much sought-after time in a prestigious and meaningful compositional opportunity that would bring about a new piece, and its premiere and recording, to be added to my portfolio. In short, I'm "handing it like a grownup would".)

I'm sorry, my parenthetical note ran longer than I originally intended, as a became it bit of a rant against this son born of a female canine.

And, really. As my high-school choral director always advised: kindly do not complain, unless you have a better, more productive answer.