The Girl with a Teacher's Heart

Chapter 10: Music of the Night

May, 2019

It's been two months since I received my scholarship. Two months since my last orchestra competition. Two months since I broke up with my ex. Needless to say, this wasn't the easiest of years. But that did not stop me from performing. There was a time when I wanted to quit, but I knew that this stage was my second home. Tonight is the orchestra concert I will be a part of until I go to college. Time flies, doesn't it? I wonder, reader. what your escape from reality is. In all seriousness, I should probably get ready for the concert. 

Phone vibrates. It was Amy calling on FaceTime.

"Taylor! Are you excited for our last ever concert?" Amy asked over the call.

"I might cry if I am being honest." I said as I was putting my makeup on.

"Really? I don't know, I might not do it again during college. With school, it would be hard to balance." Amy replied back.

"Well, performing arts has been in my blood since I was born." I replied back as I was trying to correct my mascara I had messed up on. So much for perfection.

"I think tonight will be fun." Amy said as she was curling her hair over the phone.

"Yeah, it will be. I just wish we hadn't played Drifen again. Assessment was quite traumatizing." I looked at her.

She quickly looked back at me. "Right? I wish we only played Grade 4 music. It would have been easier." Amy said back.

"Amy, Drifen IS a Grade 4 selection of music." I said with a laugh.

She smacked her forehead. "Righttttt. I forgot." Amy laughed.

"Hey, I'll see you tonight okay? Call time is 6:15 and your girl has to eat before she leaves." I said with a smile.

"Okie dokie." Amy said back.

Later that evening after the concert

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present the seniors of this orchestra. Those that are graduating, please come to the front of the stage." Mrs. Hudges announced.

Amy, me and seven other students walked in front of the stage to be presented with a rose. Mrs. Hudges announced to the audience which school we were attending in the fall of this year. It feels like yesterday when I stepped into the orchestra classroom and observed the different posters on the wall of musicians over the past several years. My director truly was and still is, an inspiration. I looked up to her and have improved in my playing since leaving Washington State back in 2012.

"This is Taylor Mitchell. She plans on attending LVCC in the fall alongside Devin Schmitz and Kayla Young. She also plans on becoming a teacher." Mrs. Hudges announced as I received a yellow rose. The scent reminded me of the warm weather during spring. .

"You have worked so hard, Taylor. I hope you come back and visit soon." Mrs. Hudges said warmly and gave me a massive hug.

I nearly broke down in tears. Yes, Hudges was strict at times, but she pushed us to become better performers and musicians. We might have not done the best at competition, but the important thing is that we had fun with her. Eventually, she would leave our school and move near her house to teach.

Orchestra is not just about competition. It's about having a good time with your other classmates and telling stories of previous performances. Going into college, I hope I can perform again. But this time, with a symphony orchestra. For those that don't know, a symphony orchestra is when the strings and band combine into one group. I hope to accomplish that dream, and one day make it a reality.