The atmosphere was both studious for the most stressed children and electric for the most impatient, on the evening of Thursday, March 26, in the hall of the castle of Cousances-les-Forges. The EIM, the intermunicipal school of music of the Codecom des Portes de Meuse, invited 19 of its apprentice musicians out of the 107 registered to perform in front of about sixty people, parents, or friends. “This mid-season audition aims to take stock in the middle of the year and evaluate the level reached by these students, whether they are beginners or advanced after several years of practice,” Pascal Boudier, a teacher of classical and electric guitar, revealed. Except for Laurent Mathieu, a guitar teacher who could not free himself, all the other teachers were present to support their proteges. Thus, Geraldine James accompanied the budding musicians in violin pieces such as “The old castle” and “Clare’s song.” Jean-Claude Lemoine supported beginner piano students in “A good duty” and “Sandman.” Pascal Boudier guided his flock in “We write on the walls” and “Washington Square.” Annael Adamczyk set up her drum set for solos on music by Bruno Mars and Shaka Ponk. Pierre-Emmanuel Gillet suggested to amateur electric guitar children “May song trad” and “Song of the wind.” Hubert Rache, on drums, set the tone for the budding guitarist with “Blue sky.” Despite the stage fright, some children performing in public for the first time, each applied themselves to demonstrate their skills and progress made since the beginning of the school year. All these efforts were greeted with enthusiastic applause from an already convinced audience, as an encouragement to continue on the chosen path.
