Butterfly Lands on Flutist's Face During Competition
Yukie Ota kept playing despite the distraction
— -- Playing the flute in an international competition with thousands of dollars in prize money on the line requires the utmost concentration -- even when a butterfly lands on your face.
Such was the example set Monday by Japanese-born flutist Yuki Ota who kept her cool amid the distraction of a butterfly while performing at the Carl Nielsen International Flute Competition in Odense, Denmark.
Nearly 30 seconds into her performance before the judges, the butterfly flew onto Ota’s face and then landed on her nose, where it stayed for the next minute.
It was only when Ota, 29, finished her performance and was able to brush the butterfly off with her hand that the animal disappeared.
A YouTube video of the unlikely visitor’s moment in the spotlight was posted Tuesday by the Odense Symphony Orchestra.
“What a moment yesterday! Japanase Youkie Ota was joined by a butterfly on stage, that seemed to enjoy her playing a lot waving its wings to Sancan's Sonatine for flute and piano,” the Orchestra posted on YouTube.
Ota will play again today in the competition’s second round, according to its website.