Sound blossoms and dissipates in a spell of utter concentration that fuses orchestra and audience. We rehearse, striving for perfection, for the sole purpose of spinning an unforgettable experience of ephemeral beauty from thin air. Then a group of musicians, passionate about their art, who have invested literally thousands of hours in training and practice, come together to bring this musical vision to life.

A composer writes a work weaving together melodies, harmonies, and instruments of varying personalities and characters. I find making music with an orchestra to be an absolutely miraculous experience. What do you find most rewarding about leading an orchestra? From that moment on, I knew I had no choice but to be a conductor. I saw firsthand how we all hungered for the experience of great music, and I thought, “What else do I have in my life that brings people together like this? And to create such beauty!” It was a completely remarkable and inspiring experience. We had a retired chemist, a schoolteacher who drove one and half hours each way to every rehearsal, a factory worker, a grocery clerk, and so many others from every corner of the community. When I looked around me, I saw people from age 12 to 85. I was in my very first job as music director for an amateur chamber orchestra. It wasn’t until several years later, however, that I realized I simply had to pursue conducting professionally. When I missed an entrance because I was spellbound by the extraordinary sound colors emanating from the woodwind section, my fate was cast. I fell in love with symphonic music from my seat inside the orchestra as a professional violinist. When did you realize you wanted to be a conductor and why?

She studied violin and conducting at Indiana University and conducting at the University of Michigan. Jackson grew up in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. In 2017, Jackson returned to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra where she previously served as their first female assistant conductor. Recent performances include concerts with the symphonies of Hartford, Eugene, Charlottesville, Hawaii, Flint, the Philly POPS and L’Orchestre symphonique de Bretagne in France. Jackson guest conducts nationally and internationally.

Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson