The Music Festival
Ever since I was a little girl I knew that I had a gift for music. Playing was my passion. While most kids were outside in the blazing summer sun, playing childish games, I was content with sitting in the cool indoors for hours practicing my beloved cello. When I play, it feels like I am transported to a whole new world. A world where I am free from all my concerns and all I have to worry about is my music. Playing was never a chore for me, when I played I felt like that was the only thing I was destined to do.
I had spent months practicing, the momentous day had finally came. It was the day of the Alberta Provincial Music Festival. I had worked so hard to get there and it was a dream come true. As I was sitting in the auditorium with my mother sitting beside me, I thought of the importance of this day. My hands were anxiously shaking as I tried to mentally go over my music. I knew my music like the back of my hand, however, I still practised the fingerings of my notes as I was listening to one of my fellow competitors play. I listened to the melodic music echo through the room, filling the air with a rich sound. Once they finished playing the crowd erupted with a warm applause. The boy beside was about to go on stage. I could see his sweat slowly trickle down his face.
The room then became silent as the adjudicator was speaking. The adjudicator seemed to talk for hours before somebody would go up to play, finally at the end of his speech he said “I will now call upon Thomas Deckers, to please step on the stage. He will be playing ‘Sanctus’ written by Earl Collins” I watched as the boy nervously walked up the stage steps. He then slowly went and sat at the beautiful red grand piano. He placed his careful fingers on the piano then started playing. The soft and gentle sound of the piano resonated in the air. I watched in glory of his playing.
Soon I felt myself becoming anxious as I was next to play. My mother gave me words of encouragement, “You’ll do great, I have faith in you” she whispered to me. When the boy finished playing the crowd cheered and he came and sat beside me again. I closed my eyes then I heard the adjudicator call my name, “Katie Patterson, please step on stage”. My mother gave me a pat on the back and softly said “Good luck honey”. I got up from my seat, looked at the crowd and climbed the stage steps, then I walked toward my cello and slowly opened the case. It felt as if all the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I picked up my cello and positioned where they belonged and started to play. The deep cello sound flowed through the air, breaking the silence. I watched the crowd look in awe as I played. Then suddenly my fingers slipped and I hit a wrong note, I continued playing as if nothing had happened. But all I could think of is, I spent months and months practicing only, to blow it with a wrong note. I just lost the competition, what will my mother think? what will the judges think?
I finished off with holding my last note, for eight steady beats. As soon as I stopped playing the crowd roared with applause and cheering. Then I bowed and walked of the stage.
“Wow! that was truly breath taking, good job sweetie” my mom said as I sat down.
“I messed up my note, how could I have done that?” I said as I slumped down in my chair. I listened to the rest of the show feeling disappointed in myself. Finally after waiting for what seemed an eternity the last performer finished.
The judges then made their way towards the stage. I sat up on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to declare a winner. I had already lost hope, knowing that I had lost. The suspense was killing me. Then one of the judges started to speak I am very impressed with you all, for making it this far and being so good at what you do. It was honestly a very hard decision to pick a winner. However, after listening to all the performers, one of them stood out to us. The winner of the 2015 Alberta Provincial Music Festival is….” I was felt like I was at an endless pit of disappointment. “Katie Patterson. You may now approach the stage and accept your award”.
I had won! I felt like I was hyperventilating. All that hard work and dedication had finally payed off. I walked up to the stage with unsteady legs. I gave the judges a handshake and took my award.
“Congratulations, you played beautifully” one of the judges said.
Then blurted out without thinking “What? me? I accidentally played one of my notes wrong”
“Dont be so hard on yourself. After all, we are all humans and we all make mistakes”
“Thank you so much, this is the best moment of my life”
Then traditionally since the winner always makes a speech I approached the microphone.
“Thank you so much for this honour. I would like to thank the judges and also my mother for always being there for me. I believe that nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. This is truly a surreal experience and it wouldn’t be possible without my dedication to the cello.”