“Mrs. Robb, could you please check out this student?” Martha Garnett poked her freckled face through the window. “It’s a hard decision, ma’am,” she added.

Her temper aroused, the irritable director rose from her seat, and made her way to the audition room. Upon arriving, she scanned the girl standing there, first her face, then down her body to her small feet. “Sing.”

And suddenly, the room was filled with the joys of the world in one girl’s voice. Birds were twittering, and the deep, expressive sound of a cello seemed to emanate from the small girl. Slowly, the song drew to a close, and she looked up with a shining face. [Read more…]