My pounding heart beat double time and the butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly as I pulled up to the large, stately building. I stepped out of the car into dazzling sunlight, but didn’t notice anything of the beautiful scenery beyond the need to squint. Walking slowly up to the large, suddenly ominous, double doors, I took several deep breaths in a futile attempt to calm my racing nerves. Steadying my hand enough to grasp the ornately carved handle on the door required great effort. Before pushing my way inside, I paused one last time to shut my eyes and take a final breath of outside air.

The last thing I did before entering was force myself to plaster a smile onto my face. I couldn’t help but wonder though, ‘Will I still be able to smile when I leave this building?’

Once inside, I waited as patiently as I could, my calm outward appearance belying my inner trepidation. Not much time passed before a stern-faced woman sitting behind a computer called me up. Her thin-rimmed glasses sat at the very tip of her nose; it seemed likely that the smallest disturbance would make them fall off entirely. Picturing that scenario threatened to turn my plastered smile into a genuine grin until the woman behind the computer fixed her glaring face on me, scrutinizing me overtop of her glasses. She looked daggers at me just long enough that I felt very uncomfortable before at last turning back to her computer screen. She then demanded answers to a barrage of questions- my name, age, birthdate, phone number, email address, home address. She fired the questions one by one as fast as I could answer them.

Finally, after fixing me with one last glare, the woman told me to step aside and wait my turn. That said, I was left alone with my many thoughts. I went over every detail that came into my mind. Yes, I had my music for the pianist, and several weeks of voice lessons had significantly improved my tone, range, and articulation on my song choice.

Forgetting the words was next to impossible because I’d known the song longer than I could remember. Yes, I had done everything I could to prepare. But then the familiar clouds of doubt crept into my mind. ‘What if I faltered on the high notes? Or sang too loudly or too softly? What if I started at the wrong time- or worse! What if I froze in place, unable to recall the words to the song or anything I’d practiced?’

I heard my name called just as the last frightening thought coursed through my mind. Once again I took a deep breath to settle the butterflies that arose in my stomach. I plastered another smile onto my face as I walked into the spacious auditorium. Time seemed to slow to a near stop as I walked quickly down the long centre aisle. There were so many seats to walk past. This room could comfortably seat hundreds of people, but now it was eerily quiet and empty. I looked up and there was the piano, sitting on the far left of the massive stage. The pianist sat on the bench, waiting casually for the next person he would accompany- waiting for me!

As I neared the front of the room, there he was! The director sat in one of the front row seats, furiously scribbling notes onto a clipboard he had on his lap. I stopped in front of him, but a little off to the side, and waited patiently until he set his pen down and fixed his attention on me. He raised his eyebrows in expectation. I quickly introduced myself and the song I was singing. Then I handed him my resume, climbed the stairs up to the stage, and gave the music to the pianist. I assumed what I hoped was a confident stance, and walked to centre stage. ‘This is the big moment, now will I succeed?’

The pianist peered at me underneath the propped up cover of the grand piano. I checked my posture, making sure my feet were shoulder width apart, and then nodded, indicating I was ready. The seconds ticked by in agonizing slowness as the pianist prepared to play. I felt the director’s eyes on me, and I forced myself to stare straight ahead. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the pianist began the few bars of introduction. At the melodious sound of those familiar notes I thrust my shoulders back and took in a final breath. A shiver of excitement ran through me as the final chord of the introduction sounded from the piano. I felt the words burst from my mouth at just the right time. Immediately all the tension left me.

The empty auditorium, the stone faced director seated in the front row, all of it faded away. Easily as could be I slipped into character, and all at once there was nothing but the music- the song. My eyes sparkled with new light as the words came naturally and clearly from my mouth. All too soon the song came to an end, the music stopped, the magic stopped. It took several moments for me to phase out of character and back into real life.

To my surprise it was all over. The wide grin on my face was no longer fake as I thanked the director for his time and exited the building to meet the dazzling sunshine. Letting out a little squeal, I twirled around before skipping to my car. This time I noticed things. The birds chirping together from the low branches of a tree. The dragonflies whizzing through the air, sunlight transforming their shiny wings and torsos into a rainbow of blues and greens. I may not get a part, but I drove away knowing I had given the best audition I could.