The Sweetest Sounds

Kapitel zwei

^^above is the audio for Lillian's solo

Lillian Mason

   

    I practiced my solo for two months straight for hours on end. I was performing Meditation from Thais by Jules Massenet. Hopefully, I impress the people from the Berlin symphony.

...

    It was now the end of summer, and I have to travel to New Jersey where auditions are being held for everyone throughout America to tryout. I could not fight the rolls of nausea running through me as I keep thinking about how many people will be there....all staring at me....waiting for me to mess up.  My mom drove me to auditions because she wanted me to save my money for my trip to Berlin (she thinks I have already earned the spot).

    My mother dropped me off in front of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, wished me good luck, and left. I gulped really big...There were a lot of people here. I felt so little compared to the gigantic building before me.

...

    After waiting for what felt like hours, it was finally my turn.

"Lillian....Mason, your turn." A tall man with a clip board said. He led me to the stage, wished me good luck, and then opened the stage door.

"Are you Lillian Mason?" A women with a thick German accent asked.

"Yes, ma'am"

"Well then, what will you be performing this afternoon?"

"Meditation from Thais"

"Interesting choice, you do know that song takes a high performance level, right?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am, I know I can do it!"

"Very well..." She turned on her recorder "When you are ready..." She turned to whisper to the other judges then looked up at me.

I straightened myself in my chair, took a deep breath, and signaled the pianist to start playing. I played with everything I had... memorizing every single detail in this song, not missing a single note or beat. It felt like my fingers had a mind of their own, moving swiftly along the finger board, pressing onto the strings effortlessly! On habit, during the really tricky parts I hold my breath, focusing really hard on the violin before me.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye, the judges looked up and did not look anywhere else but me. I wanted to prove that I was good enough to play in one of the best orchestras in the world. When I play, I imagine I am inside my violin... like it is my home. Playing the violin is really the only thing I have been sure of in my life, I will never let anything stop me from doing this.

I swayed from side to side, pushing my right arm back in forth with a lot of strength. I dug the bow against the strings (probably earning a lot of broken bow hairs because of this). I made sure not to forget dynamics as much as I can.

    When I finished the piece, I felt so relieved. I know that after today, whether or not I get in, I did the very best I can on this song. I looked at the judges and they looked stunned. The woman who questioned my playing had her mouth hanging open.

"Words cannot even describe how well you did today Miss Mason. You should be proud of what you just played. We will keep in touch with you. Welcome to the Berlin Symphony Orchestra."

"Thank you so much. This opportunity means so much to me. Thank you!" I replied.

I was lead out of the door and was handed paper work to sign. I was then instructed to go to Berlin in three weeks to start early and get settled there. I pulled out my phone and called my mom.

"Hey honey how did it go?"

"Well you are speaking to a new member of the Berlin Orchestra!"

"Oh that's great!!! I am so proud of you! I am headed to you right now. You have to tell me all about it on the way home!"

"Okay mom, see you soon."

...

Packing has always been a struggle of mine. I'm a perfectionist and also a worrier, I admit that! It took me forever along with my mom and my friend, Hannah, from the St. Louis orchestra. It was the last day I will be in America... Tomorrow, I will be in Berlin doing what I love to do!

...

My parents drove with me to the airport, it has been pretty emotional these last few weeks since I will be leaving and staying Berlin for a while. Before I left my parents presence to get on the plane, my dad grabbed my arm.

"Lillian... I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you. I know that your mother and I were so hard on you and your decisions while you were growing up. I just hope you know that we just wanted the best for you. You have proved to everyone, including us, that you can do this, honey. When you are there, just know that you have represent your country and yourself the best way possible. You will most likely be the only American there. We know you will be amazing."

"Thank you dad. I am going to miss you both so much." They both pulled me into a hug one last time.

"Don't forget to call any chance you get!" My mom yelled when I handed my ticket to the lady at the desk. Turning around, I waved then entered the plane.

    I found my seat, next to this elderly woman reading a book written in German. After a few minutes, I pulled my phone out to listen to music.

"ist das dein erstes Mal nach Deutschland?"

"Excuse me? I'm sorry I don't speak German." The woman looked at me confused. I remember taking German in high school but I am a little rusty.

"Um...Ich spreche kein Deutsch..."

"OH. Okay. I asked if you been to Germany before." The woman spoke slowly, English was obviously not her native language.

"No, I have not been to Germany before. I got accepted into the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, that's why I am leaving my home."

"You be a very good player to be in Berlin orchestra. You do great there."

"Thank you"

"Gern geschehen (your welcome)"

I smiled and then laid back listening to my music.

This was going to be a long flight, might as well get some rest.

A/N

Okay so the chapter names WILL be in German. Since most of this book will take place in Germany, I will obviously add German in it! Stay patient with me on this. I never took German and writing this book can help me understand a little bit of this beautiful language!

I am human so that means I will make mistakes! Please let me know if I do mess up something (nicely please) and I will gladly fix it!

Besides that...Thank you so much for reading!

Make sure to comment A LOT and vote!

~Amanda