When I joined the London Philharmonic the violinist Marie Wilson, who sat next to the concertmaster, told me that in an orchestra you have to “set yourself aside.” Your opinions don't count as much as those of the conductor or the leading player in your section. Concertgoers often don't realize how much skill is needed in an orchestra. You're expected to play to a high standard and to respond to leadership as a creative member of a team. Some feel they could never do the job, because they wouldn't want to spend their lives “obeying” a conductor; even some established orchestral players find the situation frustrating.

The best orchestral musicians see it as part of their job to participate in the creative process: “Even though I don't like this conductor and disagree with his tempi, I'm going for broke and I'll play my heart out.” That's what orchestral teamwork is all about. Personally, I felt most comfortable when a conductor knew what he wanted and was going to get it; this set me free within a clear framework.