I wanted to play my violin and have my musical expression through the instrument. But then I was really young when I had my first opportunity to conduct.

Whenever I listen to a children's orchestra, I learn. They feel everything, they enjoy everything, they have amazing energy.

Music is a fundamental human right

The challenge is not so much to change the sound. The challenge is to connect and to create something special.

It's not that people don't like classical music. It's that they don't have the chance to understand and to experience it.

With an orchestra you are building citizens, better citizens for the community.

You have to believe that things will happen, you have to work and love what you're doing.

I set out to create a means whereby music could be a way of vindicating the rights of the masses.

When people feel that something really special is happening on the stage, things change.

In my imagination yes, I remember, when I was six years old, I was conducting all this concert in my house. But now it's real.

Classical music in Venezuela is now something like a pop concert. You can see people screaming or crying because they don't have a ticket.

Force your kids to pursue success and they shall be drowned into the abyss of characterlessness, but let them pursue excellence and they shall rise as glorious Gods.

Problem-insight precedes solution insight. Someone has to recognise a problem before they start to solve the problem...

It's easier to invent the future than to predict it.

If you're wearing a Bluetooth thing and you've got that thing on your belt, you are working for somebody else. You are not the guy in charge. That's a really good social status indicator.

Sam Wood, the director, made most of his money as a real estate agent; there was nothing of the temperamental artist about him.

We need to continue to make the case that Michigan is where you ought to be.

Wisdom eludes me yet, but foolishness I captured long ago and to this day it is my constant companion, though many people consider me wise.

Tennis is like marrying for money. Love means nothing.

The societal pursuit of high self-esteem for everyone may literally end up doing considerable harm.

The biggest thing I learned from losing? Winning's better.