Audience member gets called up to play Prokofiev

Here’s what happened to Scott Deal, a professor of music technology, when he went to hear the Indianapolis Symphony.

My wife and I were at the Indianapolis Symphony enjoying the opening of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture when my (on silent) cell phone buzzed me. It was a message from the manager of the ISO asking if I would be willing to play in the second half, which would be Prokofiev’s 5th Symphony.

Clara and I were to be dining with ISO timpanist Jack Brennan and his wife after the concert, so they knew I was in the audience. A percussionist had been involved in a car accident on his way to the concert, and they needed somebody to fill in. I told them that while I play a lot of music, I never played Prokofiev 5, and the last time I played under a conductor was 17 years ago.

They said they understood…so I said yes, much to my great terror. They found me an oversized black suit, we used intermission to go through the score, and away we went. What a wild ride it was. I love the ISO and have been a season ticket holder for years, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine sight reading an entire symphony with them before a public audience! The percussion section was great, and so helpful. I will never forget last night!

Watch here.