The Violin Conspiracy

Ray prepares to visit his Grandma Nora, his favorite member of his family. He feels she’s the only one who he can talk to about his experience. Since the wedding, Ray and Aiden have played several more gigs together, and Ray is making good money from them. He and his mother arrive at Grandma Nora’s for Thanksgiving. While Ray and his grandmother have a moment alone, he tells her about Roger. She’s sympathetic and encourages him to always be kind and respectful, even when others don’t treat him the same way. She tells him that she has had bad experiences too, but “[y]ou stand up, you respect yourself, and you be respectful. That’s how you win” (63). After their dinner, Grandma Nora asks Ray to play his violin. His Aunt Joyce reminisces about how Grandma Nora’s grandfather, PopPop, used to play the fiddle when he was enslaved. She tells Ray that she still has his old violin stored away. He plays for her on his own violin while his mother and Aunt Joyce move away from the “noise.”

Later, Ray goes into the attic and systematically searches for the lost violin. After several hours, he finds an envelope with his PopPop’s name, Leon Marks. Undeterred, he continues his search for the violin. By the time his mother is ready to go home, Ray still hasn’t been able to find it. His mother and Aunt Joyce think it probably disappeared a long time ago.

Ray prepares to audition for his regional orchestra. His high school music teacher offers to listen to those trying out, but he overlooks Ray. The next time Aiden invites Ray to play, Ray tells him that he can’t because he had to turn in his school instrument. However, he’s saving up to buy his own. Ray and his mother return to Grandma Nora’s for the holiday break; several aunts and uncles have also arrived. Ray returns to the attic to continue his search. When the family gathers to open presents, Grandma Nora offers Ray a wrapped gift: her grandfather’s violin. Ray’s mother argues that he can’t keep it, but his grandmother is insistent. The violin is heavily damaged with age, but Ray thinks that it can be fixed. He calls Aiden and asks to be reconsidered for the job. The next day, Ray and his Aunt Rochelle go to a local music shop to have his violin repaired. The clerk is aggressive and disrespectful to Ray but eventually agrees to the repairs for an inflated price. Once the repairs are done, Ray argues that the clerk only used low-quality parts. The clerk becomes angry and throws him out. Ray finds himself sharing more about his music with Aunt Rochelle. When they return home, Ray plays for his family. Grandma Nora is enthusiastic, and for a moment Ray imagines that he can see PopPop watching, too.

Ray auditions for the regional orchestra. There are only three Black musicians there out of almost 400. After his audition, he’s approached by Janice Stevens, a music professor at Markham University. She wishes him luck. After the results are announced, Ray learns that he’s been accepted into the orchestra, and Janice comes up to congratulate him. She asks him to consider applying to Markham. Later, Ray tells his grandmother about the audition, and she reacts enthusiastically. When he tries to tell his mother, she rebuffs his efforts. When it comes time for the first rehearsal, Ray meets two other Black musicians. All three are ostracized by the other musicians. When Ray asks them about their futures, both say they think it will be too challenging to make a career out of it. One of them tells Ray that several college scouts will be attending the concert. Ray goes through another audition to determine which part he’ll play in the orchestra. Afterward, he’s given the seat of third chair, first violin.

After the performance, Ray tries to catch the attention of the college scouts. However, most of them pass him by for less talented performers. Finally, Janice arrives and tells him that she’s been given permission to offer him a full scholarship. She tells him to discuss it with his family. Ray doesn’t think that his mother will allow him to accept. When he arrives home, he examines the family photos on the walls; he’s only in one of them. He tells his mother about the concert and his scholarship offer. At first, she doesn’t understand and thinks that he’s asking her for money. While he tries to explain, she insists that he stay home and find a different job. He tells her that he’s going to accept, and they argue. Finally, she slaps him and Ray leaves. He calls his grandmother to tell her about his offer.

Janice tells Ray to meet her, sounding distressed. Ray wonders if he’s been accused of something by another student. When he meets her, his worry deepens, and he remembers when he first came to the school and was far behind the other musicians. However, Janice was supportive and tutored him privately so that he could catch up. She showed him some simple techniques that made him play more confidently. With her guidance, Ray became the best player at his school. Another student created a petition to have Janice removed for favoritism but was unsuccessful. One year, another teacher suggested that Ray consider entering the Tchaikovsky Competition in two years’ time. He discussed it with Janice, who helped him prepare. Throughout his senior year, Ray led his school’s orchestra and played local jazz gigs on the side. In preparation for post-college auditions, he and Janice went to a music shop run by Janice’s friend Jacob to purchase a better-quality instrument. Ray asked Jacob if his family violin could be repaired and elevated to concert status. Jacob was initially skeptical but examined it closer and began to see potential. Now, weeks later, Janice confronts Ray to tell him that Jacob suspects that his violin might be a rare Stradivarius.

Ray learns that his grandmother is dying of lung cancer. The family gathers to say goodbye, and Ray visits her for a few weeks. At first, she doesn’t recognize his violin in its new case; when she inquires about the old, beaten-up case, he tells her that it’s safe under his bed. She tells him the story of her PopPop’s violin: Leon was born enslaved to the Marks family, who had originally come from Italy. He learned how to play the fiddle for his enslaver’s parties and for the other enslaved people. Leon had a good relationship with his enslaver, and Ray wondered if he was secretly Leon’s father. Much later, enslaved people achieved liberation, and his enslaver gave Leon the fiddle to keep. The case itself was made from the skin of an alligator that lived in a nearby marsh. After Leon left his enslaver’s plantation, he supported himself by playing music. When Nora was a child, her grandfather taught her to always treat people with respect. Several weeks after Ray’s arrival, his grandmother asks Ray to promise to always “stay that sweet boy Grandma loves so much” (121). She passes away in his arms.

Ray and Janice collect the violin from Jacob; it has been refurbished and restored, and when Ray plays it, he finds the sound quality vastly improved. He vows to become worthy of his grandmother and the violin. Ray and Janice travel to New York to have the violin professionally appraised by Mischa Rowland. At first, Mischa tries to buy the violin, offering Ray up to $25,000. Ray refuses, saying he only wants an assessment. For several hours, Mischa examines the instrument. Finally, he tells them that the violin is a Stradivarius valued at $10.1 million. Ray purchases insurance and, at Mischa’s request, performs for the room. The experience cements his ambition and determination to enter the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Ray and Janice explore New York. Janice encourages him to buy some new clothes to present a more professional image, and Ray wonders how his family will take the news about the violin. They arrive at their hotel, but when Ray tries to check in, the clerk downgrades his room. However, the doorman is kind to Ray. Ray and Janice spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. The next day, they return to Charlotte and arrange an interview with a local paper. Ray invites his family onto a video call and tells them about the appraisal. Initially, they’re excited as they think that they’re going to sell it and split the money. However, Ray tells them that he won’t be selling it. His family turns on him and tells him that he’s being selfish. His Uncle Larry announces that he’ll be calling a lawyer. Ray hangs up. After his interview with the local paper airs, he begins receiving a flurry of messages from bigger news publications.