March 13th, 2024: some alumni members of the National Youth Orchestra of the U.S.A. came together in NYC for a spectacular 3 days of rehearsals and Carnegie Hall performance with Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin and pianist Daniil Trifonov. Most musicians were from the early years of NYO, all the way back to the founding year of 2013. It was inspiring to get to talk with those who are now pursuing or enjoying a professional career in music and everyone so passionate and hard-working.

Maestro’s memorable words:

• It’s not dragging the notes. It’s loving each note.

• It’s a hair flat. Not like your hair, my hair. Disappearing hair. (His hair looks great).

• Instead of thinking of playing “not too loud”, thinking “attack in a vocal way”.

• Choral conducting is a great way to enter the world of conducting.

Some beautiful pictures from the one and only Chris Lee: