The auditions moved quickly after that. The panel worked through the candidates with efficient, polite disinterest — the kind that came from having seen too many auditions to be genuinely moved by most of them. Moying watched and waited and kept his hands still.
When his name was called he walked to the front of the room and faced the panel.
The three regular judges had made their decision before he'd opened his mouth. He could see it on their faces: another pretty face, nothing more. He'd seen that look enough times to recognize it without thinking.
He shifted his gaze to the new Chairman. He was still watching, attention unhurried and genuinely present in a way the others weren't.
Moying nodded to the pianist and turned to face forward.
He took a breath and let his voice fill the room.
