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But still as compared to many, many orchestras in the world, I think you find a lot more new music and living composers on our programs than many other places.

Symphonic orchestras have almost become a glut in the market.

Canada does a really a phenomenal job of producing music, actors, and entertainers. If you look at the number of people we have in our country relative to the number of people that are prominent in the entertainment industry, it's pretty impressive.

But a large symphony orchestra basically is a repertory company and it has a very enormous repertoire and it is important for the performers to be able to know how to shift focus so that they instantly become part of the sound world that a particular repertoire demands.

Everything that comes out of Canada musically, I support. I support Toronto 100% because I'm on the side of the music.

I've been lucky to conduct the very best orchestras in the world: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Berlin, the London Philharmonic.

We can't afford big symphonies but we commission works that sound rich and symphonic because of the nature of the instrumentation and the people we work with.

I also work with the regular orchestras in Munich, Germany and other similar orchestras.

Canada can be tough for urban music.

The arts are part of the fiber of American society and should get Federal support.