"The foundation says this concert is meant to celebrate the power of music to bring people together and to show that talent can come from anywhere," the reporter explained. "Young musicians between the ages of 16 and 25 can submit audition videos online, and the selected performers will have the chance to play on the same stage as established professionals."
Sam looked at Maya with wide eyes. "Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" he asked.
Maya was quiet for a moment. The idea of performing on the same stage as Victor Holbrook was both thrilling and terrifying. This could be her chance to prove that everything he said about her was wrong. But it could also be a chance for him to humiliate her again, this time in front of an even bigger audience.
Mrs. Rodriguez called back a few minutes later. "Maya, did you see the news?" she asked.
"Yes," Maya said quietly. "Do you think I should audition?"
"I think this is exactly the opportunity we have been preparing for," Mrs. Rodriguez said firmly. "You have been working on Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 for three months now. You know the first movement perfectly, and you are making good progress on the second movement. This is your chance to show the world what you can do."
But Maya was scared. "What if I make a mistake? What if people laugh at me? What if Victor Holbrook says even worse things about me this time?"
"Maya," Mrs. Rodriguez said gently, "do you remember why we started this training? It was not so you could hide in practice rooms for the rest of your life. It was so you could prove that blind people can be just as good at classical music as anyone else. You cannot prove that unless you are willing to perform in public."
Maya knew her teacher was right, but she was still frightened. The thought of facing Victor Holbrook again made her stomach feel sick. "Let me think about it," Maya said.
For the next few days, Maya could not concentrate on anything except the benefit concert. She continued her daily practice routine, but her mind kept wandering to thoughts of performing on stage. Sometimes she imagined herself playing perfectly and receiving a standing ovation. Other times she imagined making terrible mistakes and being booed by the audience.
Maya's friends and family had different opinions about whether she should audition. Sam thought she should go for it because she had nothing to lose. Maya's parents were worried that she would be setting herself up for disappointment. Some of Maya's classmates at school thought it would be cool if she performed on television. Others said she was crazy to try something so difficult.