Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Concerto with Mistakes (1)
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Ye-rim Concert Hall, where the second evaluations were in full swing.
"Still, Myeong Woo-bin couldn't quite measure up to Lee Ha-yeon."
Amid the pouring applause, Lee Seong-hyuk nodded with evident delight as he scribbled in his notebook.
"Yeah, comparing them on the same piece really highlights the gap."
The standouts in the Mozart section had been Lee Ha-yeon and Myeong Woo-bin, without a doubt. They delivered performances worthy of the saying "old ginger is the hottest," truly impressive.
'But... Ha-yeon was overwhelmingly superior.'
The future potential was still hard to discern, but for pieces like this, her current strengths shone brightly enough.
'That sharp, precise touch that hits every note cleanly and crisply.'
She was starting to grow on me. Was it just because I was her piano teacher, unable to find fault?
'On the other hand, Woo-bin could clearly do even better, but something felt flat.'
Whether that rigid style was deliberate was anyone's guess.
He'd score well, no doubt, but if I were in the audience, I wouldn't have bought a ticket just for that. There were plenty of entertaining shows out there.
"Oh, it's over. Beethoven's up next."
"Think we can expect something good?"
"Supporting roles should play to their strengths. We've got Baek Ji-ho there."
"Chicken."
Led by Lee Seong-hyuk, a crowd of students headed to the waiting room. Those who'd finished their turns first either stayed to watch more or slipped out.
Just then, Lee Ha-yeon came into view, climbing up to the audience seats.
"Ha-yeon! Over here."
"Huh? You were watching? What about practice?"
"If I skipped this spectacle to practice, I wouldn't be Kwon Do-hyun."
Lee Ha-yeon trotted over and plopped down beside me.
"You were great today. The way you handled the repeated theme motifs, and that clean touch."
"You sound like some critic... Still, thanks."
"I'm way more honest than those pretentious types."
I continued, gazing at her as she poked me playfully.
"You didn't seem nervous at all, even for such an important exam."
"Just played like I always do."
See that? She nodded without a hint of unease, exuding total confidence. She had every reason to.
"Your clear motifs felt like they had a specific inspiration. Did you practice to Gesa Anda's recording by any chance?"
"Motifs... No, nothing like that. Don't even know who that is."
"So you interpreted and expressed it all on your own? Really?"
I'd thought her interpretive skills were still developing. If today's performance was her own creation, I'd beg to learn from her—it was that captivating.
As I asked with sparkling eyes, Ha-yeon subtly averted her gaze, trailing off.
"No, not exactly... Lessons? Yeah, lessons..."
"Lessons from who?"
"Ah, Beethoven's starting!"
She abruptly changed the subject, pointing at the stage with an awkward tone.
'Was that a bad question? Doesn't seem like it.'
Still, she seemed reluctant to answer, so I didn't press.
The Beethoven round featured familiar faces, making it all the more engaging to watch.
Perfectly flawless Baek Ji-ho, drawing chuckles; Lee Seong-hyuk with his satisfying performance; Seol Yu-jin, surprisingly delivering a powerhouse show.
And...
"Ah, Ye-ri..."
"Whoa, that's rough."
Seo Ye-ri, who couldn't muster her strength, getting completely drowned out by the orchestra and struggling hard. Her darkening expression throughout was heartbreaking.
'She's not the type to falter at just this level.'
She'd boasted about practicing her heart out, but maybe concerto format just wasn't her thing. And it wasn't even an insanely tough piece.
'Told her to stay calm. Wonder if she'll sulk if I tease her later.'
No time for deep thoughts.
Next up: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1, 3rd Movement...
A prompt announcement signaled it was no time to worry about others.
"Group leader...! I didn't miss it, right?!"
Just then, Kim Ju-hee came dashing up, panting heavily. She'd holed up in the practice room out of nerves.
"They just called. Let's go."
"Phew... Ha-yeon did well? Gotta be first place, no doubt."
"Yeah, don't worry about me. Both of you just nail it."
After a quick pep talk, Ju-hee and I headed down the auditorium stairs. She fanned herself frantically, voice drooping.
"Maybe I should've skipped practice today... Feels even more nerve-wracking."
"Hands okay?"
"Yeah, didn't overdo it. How was Ye-ri? She do good?"
"Seo Ye-ri? Hmm, let's see."
I subtly dodged her question.
What if I told her now that Ye-ri had bombed? Instant meltdown chain reaction.
Her reaction was predictable as ever. Sensitive to external factors, best to gloss over for now.
"Ye-ri!"
Ju-hee's raised voice came right then.
'Ye-ri? Oh no.'
Bad omens always come true. Seo Ye-ri approached from the opposite side, head hung low.
"I just got here, missed your performance! Sorry, hehe. How'd you do, Ye-ri...?"
"Sorry, Ju-hee."
Evasive of Ju-hee's touch, Ye-ri hurried past, head still down.
"Wha—huh...?"
Ju-hee whipped around to me, face crumpling in confusion, hands flailing lost in the air.
Even as she looked ready to burst into tears, there was nothing I could do.
"Must've clashed with someone in the orchestra... Probably nothing."
Had to brush it off vaguely. Focus on acing the test first.
"Oh... Yeah."
Accepting it at face value, Ju-hee slowly calmed her agitation with a sigh of relief.
Good thing she's a bit naive.
"Knew it."
With a lifted smile, Ju-hee strode ahead.
As I moved to follow, a voice brimming with diamond-hard confidence grabbed my ankle.
"Kwon Do-hyun."
"Ah."
...It was Seol Yu-jin.
A haughty stride, cheeks twitching like she couldn't control her dancing smirk.
"Saw my performance, right?"
She flashed a V-sign with her fingers, scoffing as she brushed past.
"Sorry, but no draws in this matchup."
Didn't feel like replying.
Win big, then.
Since drawing that assignment piece, how many questions and worries had tormented my mind? I'd wrestled fiercely for answers and reached my own conclusions.
The moment to put the final period was fast approaching.
"Hey, before the piano recap section, should we anticipate a beat or two?"
"No, stick strictly to the downbeat there. If the strings jump ahead, it sounds rushed."
"In the climax octave, just follow my lead on the woodwinds? Conductors vary a bit on breathing there."
"Yeah, like yesterday. Your clarinet sounded great."
"Really? Thanks!"
One issue, though. Had I imprinted too deeply on these folks yesterday?
I wanted some calm seated visualization, but reps from each section kept scurrying over with questions—no quiet meditation possible.
'She's still at it.'
The grumpy horn player was almost cute now. Sulky over that petty revenge, yet she'd followed perfectly in the performance.
"Do-hyun, do great today! Yesterday at the end, like this with strings! And brass like that! So cool?"
Kim Ga-eul, humming nonstop, approached and mimed conducting wildly in the air.
Her short stature undercut the cool factor, though.
"Teasing me?"
"Hehe, as if!"
Ga-eul beamed, patted my shoulder, and scampered off.
Can the skilled stay this serene before exams...? My mind was actually pretty chaotic.
"Ju-hee, just like yesterday, okay?"
"Got it. Remembering the feel."
Ju-hee nodded determinedly. She'd tamed the orchestra solid, and yesterday's run was pretty solid.
'Next group's up already.'
I scrutinized the prior group's performance on the waiting room monitor. With our weaker players mostly here, theirs should have a decent orchestra...
'But their piano's too weak to capitalize.'
Smaller scale really spotlights piano prowess. Note to self.
Score-faithful playing feels disappointingly vague without rock-solid basics.
For this age group, lacking in experience, interpretation, and expression, their own brand of harmony could be the breakthrough.
'The meaning of piano as solo in this chamber arrangement, and the sound Tchaikovsky expected at the premiere.'
That's all I'd focus on.
My playing would be our group's charm, for Ju-hee and the piano majors behind me too.
"Applause... Guys, we're up!"
"Who's first piano?"
"Kwon Do-hyun, right? Yesterday."
"Thank goodness, let's go."
Soon, we climbed the stairs to the vast stage. Spacious even for a chamber orchestra, it peeked through the curtains.
'If we don't fill the extra space with volume, it'll swallow the sound.'
First sight upon mounting: the faculty packed in the front row.
A lot of them. Nearly every department's profs. Piano faculty totaled three, I think.
'Plenty of audience too?'
Last slot with Tchaikovsky, yet around two hundred lingered. No rush home, friends waiting or whatever.
'Not much anticipation in their eyes.'
Most glued to phones or yawning lazily.
...Kinda infuriating. Not like they paid for a big show, but still.
Wanted to shove emotion into their pupils. Baseless confidence surged: could they keep those faces after this?
Felt it in yesterday's rehearsal—our group was solid. Swallowing "expect greatness," tension and excitement mixed into a natural sigh.
"Do-hyun, fighting—!"
A familiar nightingale voice called as I scanned the seats.
'Who?'
Did they usually cheer like that on exam day? Not Ha-yeon's style...
I scanned for the source.
"Eek."
Eye contact with the cheering girl drew an odd exclamation from me.
Round glasses, cute smiling face—Daeun sunbae, leaning on the second balcony railing, waving wildly. Beside her, grimacing Lee Jin-seong sunbae.
Why...? No clue. Seriously.
Aren't they students? No classes?
Kim Ga-eul recalled a recent chat among friends, puzzled. Do-hyun's presence alone skyrocketed rehearsal quality.
'How? What gives.'
Even yesterday. Cohesion and grandeur leagues beyond normal practice.
"Breathing matched" didn't cut it.
Piano conducting orchestra? Unheard of, and even witnessing it, the magic's source eluded her.
Just, with him, members output multiples of their capacity.
'Make the piano shine more.'
His sole reply to her question.
From orchestra's rear, Ga-eul surveyed. String-heavy setup half-obscured Do-hyun's silhouette amid violins.
Seated at piano, he breathed steadily, eyes closed. Yesterday he'd eye the group, say something—today, oddly silent.
10 seconds, 30... Time dragged heavily.
"Um, when do we start?"
"You may begin."
A tentative query met a teacher's signal.
No choice—she'd count.
"Two, three...!"
Timpani, strings, woodwinds' brief intro. Bright, lively theme passed to piano.