Oops!

Yesterday we went to the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. We've been before... last year with the girls as a requirement for their piano lessons. Its an amazing opportunity to hear some of the finest pianists on the planet.

This year, now that Sarah is a teenager, she was able to volunteer backstage during the competition. Her duties were to be an escort for the competitors. Show them their rehearsal room. Show them where they can change into their performance clothes. Take them up to the stage at the appointed time and bring them back down when it's all done. Emily and I got to see behind the scenes as well while they showed Sarah the ropes.

There are 38 competitors from 13 countries ranging in age from 19 to 32. Sarah's first competitor was a man from France. She said he was really nice and surprisingly, very nervous.

Emily and I were in the theater, transfixed by these musical geniuses. We had great seats and were able to see all the facial expressions and body language. We watched their hands flying back and forth across the keys. Kind of like a marshall arts action film on a piano. Em's comment while watching a female competitor going crazy on the keys, "... she's gonna lose a finger!"

When Sarah was done she said she'd had a ball and that she'd do it again if given the chance. She then added, "That was the scariest thing I've ever done!"
What? Do you mean talking wth the competitors?
"No! I almost crashed a Steinway!! I had to move a Steinway!! Each competitor can choose if they want the Hamburg Steinway or the American Steinway. We had to make a change and we ran into the other Steinway!!" Apparently, one of the pianos hadn't been moved far enough out of the way and 9 foot concert grands don't turn on a dime.

Just for kicks, when we got home, I looked on the internet to see how much a big old Steinway costs. I found a gently used concert grand for almost $150,000.00. Oopsie! So glad she didn't roll it off the stage.

Good save Sarah Bear.