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And at the same time, I had my very first concert at the age of 16. I hadn't heard a symphony orchestra before, and I was so deeply impressed I said I have to be a conductor.

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

I actually was a musician in college, a composer and singer, and really intended to be the second coming of Leonard Bernstein when I got out.

Originally, I wanted to be a composer. I always tell people, 'I think of myself as a composer.'

I played with the best conductors of the world.

I was in the army, and I had given up the thought of being a composer.

The orchestra confides in me about their music director or their conductor, and I've never seen a conductor that's been liked by everyone.

I had a year at 3 when I wanted to be a conductor in the opera.

I consider myself a composer.

I've learned a lot from the masters of orchestration, like Ravel and Stravinsky.