It had been 30 years since Roy McDonald had played as an extra in Ottawa’s National Arts Center Orchestra. So when he was asked to audition for an extra role in Symphony Nova Scotia, he was flattered…and a lot nervous. But “I was told the audition would be casual, which I incorrectly interpreted to mean friendly. I pictured me and the conductor in a brightly lit rehearsal hall – introductions would be made, smiles, a couple of handshakes, and then someone would say, ‘OK, Mr. McDonald, let’s hear you take a whack at the Beethoven.’ I had also imagined I would steadfastly avoid falling into the trap of getting nervous: I had nothing to lose.” Boy was he wrong.