It was early Saturday morning. I was in the passenger seat playing the music over and over again in my head. I could not stop imaging about what to expect on the audition. My sister was at the back seat sleeping with peace in uncertain times. I was messing around with my violin case deciding whether or not jinx my chance of getting a spot in a state orchestra. I was surfing around the radio station to find a suitable music to calm myself. I failed.
I don’t remember how I got in the practice room but I was there. I do recall getting lost in the campus trying to find the right building for the audition. I remember yelling at my mom for making the wrong at the intersection. The practice room was huge gym full of musicians. It was nothing I expected. There was no music stand, sound proof wall, and poster of Beethoven. I was fine with unforeseen setting except the fact that I did not have a personal music stand with me. I wonder around the room like a chicken without a head. It was hopeless. I wanted to stop the music in the room to have an audio privacy to prepare for the audition but it was impossible. Looking at the clock I had 20 minutes to warm up my finger and bring back my muscle memory. With a mix of sound frequency swarming around the room I lost my concentration.
I was number 109. That was my musician identification number. Every 5 minutes, musician identification number was called for musician to gather around the audition hall. My heart skipped the beat every five minutes. As the number came closer to the triple digit, my heart rate increased with increase rate.
It was time, the number 108 was called. I started my mental clock to make sure I will be prepared for the moment. All my 2 month of hard work was at stake. I had to overcome the nerve to perform my best. “Number 109 I repeat number 109”, said the announcer. I jumped up and grabbed my violin and my music and ran toward the door. The door was propped open and an old lady with a clipboard was waiting for me. “Stop right there young man. I will get you in soon as possible” said the lady. “Take your time I am not in a hurry.” I was glad I got to talk to someone before the audition I got a chance to let out some of my nerve.
I finally escorted through the door. The audition hall was consisting of 5 musicians shivering. The hallway had three classrooms with differ color poster posted in front of the door. The audition had specific order of operation. I was informed to finish the excerpt first and go in to the slight reading section last. A wise old man came up to me. “Hey, are you Andy?” “Yes.” I replied. “you are in the right place at the right time come on in”. I was introduced to the excerpt room. The excerpt room was a regular history classroom except there was a big billboard to hide the judges. I could not see anyone except a music stand waiting for me. “You may begin whenever you are ready” said the anonymous judge. If I follow the instruction, I would not have started the audition and left the building. But I couldn’t.
I broke a complete silence with my first note. The room was relative small and had excellent acoustic. I could not breathe during my excerpt. I was suffocating with music I had to let it all out. I did. I finished my excerpt. Next, I had to sight read the music meaning playing a piece of music you never seen before. To be honest, I cheated during my sight reading test. I eavesdrop on the previous musician and figure out what I was expecting. Sometimes, knowing what to expect is not a good thing. I keep worrying about the tempo and dynamic of the piece I did not focus on the notes. As a result, I missed couple of note and screw up the audition.
I was at the playground with bunch of little kids running around. It was birthday party for little children. I volunteer to look over the kids and make sure they do not eat the mulch and break their bone. All the adults were at the bench talking to each other about life. I had great time with the children and I know I did my job because no children ate mulch at the play ground (not that I know of) and no one cried at the party. It was time to go. I was driving out of the parking lot and in the corner of my back mirror I saw my mom running toward the car with her cell phone stuck in her ear. I knew something was wrong but for some reason I thought it will be funny to make my mom run. So, I slow down but I did not stop the vehicle. But when she got closer I got to see her face I knew I had to stop. I scrolled down the window “What is wrong ma?” “You made it” she replied. “what did I make?” “you made into the State orchestra.” After I heard this news, I stop the vehicle in the middle of the car and ran toward my mom and gave her a hug. I scream “I made it!” on top of my lung. I ran back to the playground and started to run around the playground like if I was on fire. The good news never stopped. I got the result from my music director and I figured out that I made it in to the 1st violin section.
I am not completely done but I am hoping to add more detail and make it more personal.
