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Playing in an orchestra is where I learned the most about music.

I went to study some orchestration stuff because I got so inspired working with all the orchestras.

I learned that when you're lucky enough to be surrounded by such talented people that you really become more of an orchestrator of this talent - you're just trying to harmonise everyone's contributions.

I love working with an orchestra, but there are many ways to make music.

I currently spend a lot of time thinking about orchestration and every detail of a piece.

Both of my mom's parents were music teachers, so I got a lot of knowledge about everything from classical music to jazz to musicals.

I played piano, I learned a lot about music.

Actually, I've had very little classical training, although I love listening to classical music very much.

I approach everything as chamber music. Even with Beethoven symphonies, I lead from the violin and basically encourage the orchestra to think of it as a giant string quartet.

Not with the Rochester Philharmonic, but I formed my own orchestra, made up of musicians from the Eastman School, where I'm on the faculty now, direct the Jazz Ensemble and teach improvisation classes.