Keeping Time: The Role of the Classical Conductor

The leader of an orchestra needs a steady hand and a love of learning.
Keeping Time: The Role of the Classical Conductor
American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein conducting the Berlioz Requiem at the Saint-Louis-des-Invalides Cathedral in Paris, 1975. AFP/Getty Images
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“To lead the orchestra, you must turn your back on the crowd.”

This well-known saying, popularized by a James Crook and a slew of others, is used to emphasize the need for razor-sharp focus to achieve lofty goals. Though the quote can be applied to any discipline, it refers to the conductor of an orchestra, a role requiring a high level of focus and attention to detail.

Rebecca Day
Rebecca Day
Author
Rebecca Day is a freelance writer and independent musician. For more information on her music and writing, visit her Substack, Classically Cultured, at ClassicallyCultured.substack.com