Another Audition

Several months ago Thomas announced, as we were driving home from school, that he had agreed to participate in a district-wide band and orchestra wind instrument competition. I groaned inwardly because Thomas does NOT handle auditions well but this one had a TWIST to make it extra stressful: we had to supply our own piano accompanist. How we were to find such a person was beyond me. Thomas assured me I was not to worry as he would take care of everything. He and Dean, his bassoon teacher picked out bassoon and piano music--apparently the most difficult bassoon piece ever written (part of how you are judged is on the difficulty of the piece, it is a lot like gymnastics in the Olympics in that way--better to make a few mistakes playing a really difficult piece than to play an easy piece perfectly). Weeks and weeks went by and, late December I happened to ask Thomas if he had found his piano accompanist. "No!" he wailed, throwing himself on our bed (the place he always goes when his life is falling apart and he wants us to drop dead and he wants to no longer deal with all the horrible problems in the world). "Would YOU do it?" he sobs. I knew it. It always comes to this. The FIM, being stuffed with professional pianists, has a list (as well as suggested rates--also adjusted rates for parents of kids who pissed around until the last minute) so I started making phone calls and leaving messages. The only problem was that it was three days before Christmas, the school was shutting down for the holidays and wouldn't open up again for two weeks. THOMAS!!!! No one called me back until well into the new year, and even then only to tell me that they all had obligations on February 1st. Things were looking grim. FINALLY, a guy called Donald called back about two weeks ago and said he was "intrigued" with the idea of accompanying a bassoonist, something he had never done before. He has taught piano for decades at the FIM (in fact, he is the piano instructor to one of Thomas's best friends, Sherwin) but he didn't know anything about this whole district audition business. So, we agreed to 2 or 3 30 minute rehearsals in the late evening when both were done with their other music commitments so they get comfortable with playing together. The first time I went to drop Thomas off, he was scared to death, convinced that Donald would be mean. But, in fact, the guy was a real hoot. I asked when I should come back and he said, "Oh, we'll just play as long as it takes. If we're not here when you come back, we've gone off to the local bar for a drink." (At that Thomas looked mortified.) Then he turned to Thomas and said, "Ok, let's tear this place apart. Show me your chops." I don't think Thomas knew what he meant because he just looked anxious.
I came back after 30 minutes and Thomas seemed happy and pink faced, which means he was getting a good work out. In the car ride home he was obviously excited about working with Donald. He said the piece sounded "much better" with a piano. They had three rehearsals together and, last night, was show time.
MEANWHILE, about two weeks ago a classmate in Thomas's band at school asked Thomas if he would join her quintet because the kid who agreed to play the bassoon part for the same district auditions quit for no reason. For reasons that are unclear to me, Thomas agreed. So this quintet has been practicing together since August, and Thomas got the music two weeks ago. I didn't think this was a good idea since, if they didn't do well, they may blame Thomas when it would hardly be his fault if he didn't have time to prepare. The first rehearsal he was supposed to join them he couldn't even find the school they were at, so he didn't make that rehearsal. Last week he went to a rehearsal, but one other member of the quintet was not there. So, last night at the audition was the only time the entire quintet actually ever played together.
Yesterday Thomas got home from school, changed his clothes and we had to head out. It was about a 45 minute drive to the middle of nowhere to another super-school complex which obviously is hyper funded by secret stores of hidden wealth. Finally, about 5:30 it was his turn to audition with Donald. When the called his name, he looked like he was being called to his execution, he was shaking so hard. I waited outside the room but I couldn't hear anything because every room had some kid playing some wind instrument--there were hundreds and hundreds of kids auditioning. (The auditions started at 4, continued until 8 that night and are all day today.) Once they finished, it took the judge about ten minutes to settle a score. Thomas received a "1"--neither of us knew what that meant, and so didn't know how to react so they had to explain. Apparently that is a "1st--the highest score possible"--Huzzah!!--which pushes Thomas onto the next level of competition--Boo!! Oh, just kidding. About an hour later the quintet performed, 4 gals and Thomas, and all the parents got to sit in. It was a Schubert piece and really was lovely. I didn't hear one flubbed note, but what do I know. The judged started by raving about it--"lovely, absolutely lovely, I must begin by saying that." But then did give a few critiques but, really, they sounded more like very tiny suggestions, the sort of thing a conductor would say to improve a piece. I hope the kids were listening because it sounded like he was offering helpful advice that could help them. Anyway, he obviously thought very highly of the performance because he gave it a 1st so they, too, will be going to state to compete against other wind ensembles. Sheesh. Here are some medals Thomas was awarded for his troubles:

I am not even sure when or where these state auditions are. Simon talked to Donald this morning, Thomas's intrepid pianist, to break the news to him that he isn't rid of Thomas yet. He seemed to take the news in stride; he's a plucky old bird.