Professor Chen arrived during the sound check and stood in the wings, watching with critical eyes. When Maya finished, her teacher approached with a slight smile.
"Your Chopin has improved remarkably. The rubato feels natural now, not forced. But watch your left hand in the Liszt. You're rushing slightly in the technical passages. Let the notes breathe even when they're fast."
"I'm nervous about the Liszt," Maya admitted. "It's so exposed. If I make a mistake, everyone will hear it."
"Then don't make mistakes," Professor Chen said with a slight shrug, but her eyes were kind. "Maya, you've done the work. You know this music inside and out. Now you just need to trust that and let go. The performance isn't about perfection. It's about communication, about connection. You're not showing off your skills; you're sharing something beautiful with people who came here hoping to be moved. Remember that."
By 7:00, Maya was in the green room trying to stay calm. She could hear the audience arriving, the murmur of hundreds of conversations, the excitement in the air. Through a monitor, she could see the hall filling up. Every seat was taken now, and people were standing in the back. The livestream was already active, showing the empty stage, and according to James, over 50,000 people were watching online.
50,000 people plus the 1,500 in the hall. Maya felt like she might throw up.