A spectator replaces a musician at short notice in a Prokofiev symphony

He expected to attend a concert, he ended up participating as a musician. An American music teacher, Scott Deal, took the stage during a concert by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at the end of September, reports Radio Classique. The music teacher and percussionist had come to attend the evening with his wife. During the overture to Beethoven's Egmont, he received a message on his phone from the orchestra director. The percussionist of the band had a car accident and he asked him if he could replace him in Serge Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.

Scott Deal explains that he has never played said song in his life. In reality, the music teacher hasn't played in an orchestra in 17 years. “I accepted even though I was terrified,” he explains. They found me a black suit that was way too big for me, we took advantage of the intermission to go through the score and then… off we went!”

On stage, the musician made a strong impression. “I would never have imagined playing an entire symphony with them and in public,” he declared, amazed, after the concert.