Strange audition coincidence abroad.

When I was at college in London in 1989, I won a scholarship to study classical music, on the proviso that I studied abroad. My college Principal suggested that I go to study at a prestigious music conservatoire in Austria, because he'd studied clarinet there 30 years earlier and had enjoyed it very much. He said that he'd sort out all the paperwork and a place at the affiliated student hostel. He was adamant that for entry to the conservatoire I wouldn't need any sort of audition, I could just turn up on the first day of term. So I had my farewell party, packed a large trunk and sent it by air to Austria. I decided that I'd acclimatise myself by flying over a couple of weeks before term started so that I could settle in, and so I randomly picked the 18th September to fly. On the 19th September I had breakfast and a walking tour of some of the tourist sites of the town. I then wandered into the college building to see what it was like. Out of curiosity I went up to a noticeboard where I saw a list of auditions happening that day. My name was next to the 12.30pm slot. It was 12.15pm! I'd had no idea I had an audition, and it was pure chance that I'd wandered in that day, let alone that I was there at all that week. I realised that if I didn't do (and pass) the audition, I'd have to fly home in disgrace and give back the scholarship (given to me on the understanding that I had a place at the college already). I grabbed a staff member and explained what had happened. She was horrified and got me some music. Fortunately I had a couple of pieces of music I could sing from memory, but there was no time to warm up or rehearse. I went onstage, I did the audition, and got the place! I ended up staying for 5 years. The college Principal back home got one angry phone call later that afternoon! Julia Williams, London, UK.