I am currently in Hamilton, Canada for the Canadian Premiere of the Billy Joel "Symphonic Fantasies". After several years of emails with Boris Brott, we finally made a concert happen. I was so impressed with the rehearsals for the concerto, witnessing Boris not only conduct superbly, but demonstrate his amazing gifts as a mentor to the National Academy Orchestra (comprised of mentors and students). Having assisted the NY Philharmonic during the Bernstein years, it's no wonder Boris is the teacher he is. He teaches with humility and has a pair of the best ears I've seen in a while. He was also able to recreate the orchestral palette and make alterations in scoring to make the piece sound perfect. Since this is only the third stop with this concerto, I am grateful that Boris took the time to do this in addition to his role as conductor. For those not familiar with the Boris Brott Festival, check it out. Boris brings new and unusual repertoire to the plate with tried-and-true repertoire as well. I am greatly looking forward to the performance tonite!