A Beautiful Instrument

3: Audition Day

I wake up early the next day, nervous and excited for my audition. I have worked so hard to prepare for today. I'm feeling confident. I force myself out of bed and to the gym for a morning swim and then back home to shower and eat breakfast before heading out.

"Kill it, girl! I have faith that you'll be the newest member of the Orchestra by day's end." Alexis encourages me.

"I doubt they'll make their decision that fast, Alexis. But thanks for your support!" I respond.

She hugs me and pats me on the bottom like a football player. I laugh and give her a quizzical look. She shrugs. "If all else fails you can play for the Browns. Can't be any worse than they are now!"

"I love you, but you're weird." I label her.

"Have you thought about Plan B, otherwise known as Plan Picking- Up-the-Broken-Pieces?" She asks, delicately.

"Weddings, teaching, pan-handling." I joke.

"Oh dear. That's going to need more work. I guess we'll cross that bridge if we come to it." She says optimistically.

"Funny you should mention the worst case scenario. I met someone last night." I reveal, biting my lip.

"Ooo...go on." She urges.

"After some flirtatious ogling and me giving him my number, I found out..." I tease the news.

"...he's married!" Alexis guesses.

"No, he's..."

"...a woman?" She doubles down.

I laugh. "Stop that! He's also a cellist and...one that aspires to hold the same seat I do in the same orchestra."

Alexis blinks at me like she doesn't see the big deal. "That's the worst case scenario? You need to watch more prime-time TV and up your game."

I explain. "He's my biggest competition."

"No, Leigh. You are. Stop looking for excuses. You can date him and compete with him. It'll be hot. You'll make beautiful music together both in and out of the concert hall." Alexis resolves simply.

"I also bumped into Keith who tore me down and then hit on me in the same breath." I relay.

"Typical Keith. Got anything else for me?" She asks.

I shake my head, deciding not to tell her about Friedrich. She's a pretty vocal women's rights advocate and I can see her equating this to that whole Hollywood #metoomovement. I can't start off my career with a scandal. And now that I've been warned, I'll just stay clear. I need to get the seat first before I worry about it.

Alexis sees me drifting in my thoughts. She snaps her fingers. "Now go get dressed and don't forget how amazing you are."

***

Round 1 of auditions starts at 10am. Sometimes these auditions span several days, which if you're from out of town can be quite expensive with hotel costs, not to mention nerve-racking. This audition has been condensed into a single day.

154 people applied. They invited 50 of us to audition. The rounds are devised to widdle us down, but it all comes down to 5-minute snippets throughout the day. It's about practice, poise, and endurance, especially if you make it to the final rounds.

The first round is typically tough just because you're getting familar with the location and the set-up. A single chair is on the side where we enter, stage left. A partition separates the stage and presumably a 10-person committee sits on the other side, listening and making their recommendations. Thankfully, my familiarity with the process after at least half a dozen failed auditions and my short-lived stage experience yesterday removes the initial jitters.