Anchorage Symphony Audition

September 23, 2006 at 12:43 AM

“My audition went okay.” ~Charlie Caldwell

“My audition went well, I think. It was kind of weird... I'm really happy about it since it was my first audition. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.” ~Lisa M

“Although I didn't perform at my best, I did what I could under nervousness and pressure... I wish I could play as well under pressure as I play at home.” ~William Yap

“It didn't go as well as I had hoped (does it ever?)” ~Kelsey Z

“It went okay. I had some moments where I reminded myself that I could control things. And yet I was still a bit shaky, a bit hesitant... I didn’t feel super nervous or panicky, but certainly my heart was pumping and I wasn’t ‘relaxed’.” ~Laurie Niles

“I hate waiting for audition results...” ~Andrew Paa

“Nervous, oh so dreadfully nervous I have been and am.... But WHY must you say that I am mad?” ~Linda Lerskier–-er, I mean Edgar Allan Poe

It was the same old audition story, plus or minus a few nerves. In fact, I remember telling myself this about halfway into the Tchaikovsky excerpt. So this is what they all write about, I thought, as I ad libbed the last half of the run and landed at the top. ...Except, I wonder how many other violinists found the panel of judges filing into the small dressing room where they were warming up. I’d always pictured standing under interrogation lights on a stage, as an unseen force listened from the seats in a darkened auditorium. Instead, I got to stand five feet from the conductor--under unusually good track lighting–-and reenact a pagan sacrificial dance, following it with Beethoven’s Pastorale. (“It’s very hard to play Beethoven after Stravinsky,” I interjected.) Yes, I was nervous, and no, I didn’t play my best, but I think at least a snippet or two showed them what I really could do. The Schumann #2 was last, and it surprised me by being quite good.

And the results? The fortune cookie preceding the audition announced: You will attain a hoped-for objective. We’ll see...

From Kelsey Z.
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 12:46 AM

If you won the audition in your mind, that's all that counts! Every audition is different and no matter how much you prepare there is always some anxiety/nerves it's learning to deal with them! I'm fine for performance settings (most of the time) but you stick me in an audition or a lesson situation and those 1-6 people terrify me more than an auditorium filled with 600.

Oh how I wish it was an unseen face seated in the darkened audience that did my auditions.

I sincerely hope that your fortune cookie is right!

From Laurie Niles
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 4:46 AM

I feel your pain!

Seriously, good for you. Every audition that you take in good faith is a growing experience, whatever the outcome.

From Jenna Potts
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 5:46 AM

You're brave....

From Michael Schallock
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 6:15 AM

Bet you a beer you made it. You can pay me back Wed. night. Brewhouse.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 8:51 AM

You are very brave.

From Linda Lerskier
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 4:05 PM

Break the fortune cookie already!

Muahaha! I am not mad! I am Poe!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 5:13 PM

She's not brave, she's good. Good luck! Hmmm hope that doesn't curse it :)

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 23, 2006 at 11:40 PM

Thanks for the kind words, everyone.

Michael, if you're wrong, you get to play in the KPO fall children's concert with me. Or are you doing that already?

Hey Laurie, I gradually tweaked it up to 144, just once while practicing, and then came back down to earth. Auditioned at somewhere between 120-130, probably. 144 is insane. You need more than caffeine for that kind of speed.

From Michael Schallock
Posted on September 24, 2006 at 8:03 PM

I am playing KPO but missing next sunday because of Tschaik 5 in Anchorage.
My daughter Jessica, is playing the first movt of Mozart piano concerto #20, I believe it is, with KPO that concert too, so I wouldn't miss it.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 25, 2006 at 6:09 AM

Well, I guess I'll be missing that one, too!

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 25, 2006 at 6:11 AM

...I mean, the Sunday rehearsal, not the KPO concert. Best wishes to your daughter, by the way.

From Gabriel Kastelle
Posted on September 25, 2006 at 4:16 PM

Good for you following through-- hadn't heard for a while, and I wondered (I was right: you WERE practicing Schumann Scherzo!)

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