The only lasting values to be found in the life of a professional musician are those found in the music itself and in the love and constant giving that it demands of us. Success, praise, and admiration are not possessions. They can be gained and lost at any time. The only permanent satisfaction come from the love for the music itself, and joy in passing it on to others without asking for anything in return. The moral imperative seems to be leave the world better than the way you found it. We need to remind ourselves this constantly. Through your art, restate the old proverb, "We have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors but rather borrowed it from our children".
James Conlan
Symphony Conductor