On Wednesday, EBO was invited to attend New World Symphony’s first rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony. The experience was extraordinary. It made a visible impact on our students and provided motivation for our young musicians in orchestra. Part of what made it special was the hearing and seeing a live orchestra. But perhaps what was truly unique was the opportunity to hear professionals working on their craft, striving to make a collective musical statement. It wasn’t perfect…There were mistakes, there were discussions, and there were changes made as an ensemble and individually that made the music come to life. It was special!