December 7, 2004 at 1:05 AM

Crunch time for the Central Jersey Symphony has officially arrived. We're less than a week away from the concert. Do I look nervous yet?

It's amazing to me how stressful this is becoming for me. I don't think I've ever been as skittish about going onstage and performing as I am about this concert on Sunday. To be honest, I thought that not having to play an instrument would be an advantage. Now I'm truly beginning to appreciate that the conductor "plays the orchestra". If I don't give the right cues, if I don't plan for the right phrases and dynamics, if I don't give all the energy that I have to bring sound out of the group, then it could all come crashing down. I'm essentially responsible for everyone playing well. Yikes...

So for what it's worth, our concert is Sunday, Dec. 12 at 3 pm in Bridgewater, NJ. If anyone's in the area and isn't busy, come on down and check out the show. You can show up and make me even more nervous than I already am!

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