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We often speak about leadership as though it were a matter of choosing a destination and then finding the most efficient route to reach it. We develop strategic plans, establish benchmarks, and measure our progress. All of that work is necessary. But it can also create the impression that, somewhere ahead of us, there is a finished version of the organization waiting to be discovered.

I do not believe there is a final model for Cape Symphony.

Cape Symphony Principal Trombone Robert Hoveland was introduced to his instrument in his Texas elementary school. “Our band director hosted an ‘instrument petting zoo’ for kids to check out instruments and see what fit,” he remembers. “You submitted your top choices… mine were trumpet, because my best friend played, and saxophone, because Bill Clinton made it look cool. But the band director said ‘you seem pretty tall, here’s your trombone!’”

“As a piano teacher, I don’t set a goal of perfection,” says Mirela Chisbora. “I am more a guide on a musical journey. I offer a map and a compass, and help my students set and achieve their goals. The journey is different for each individual.” With considerable expertise and experience, Mirela is a wise and supportive guide.

There's a question that seems to come up every few years: Do orchestras still matter?

It's understandable. We live in a world with more entertainment choices than ever before. People are busier. Technology has changed how we experience music, and every nonprofit competes for the same philanthropic dollars. It's easy to look at those realities and wonder whether organizations like ours can continue to thrive.

I believe they can.

More importantly, I believe they must.

A recent Boston Globe article examined a challenge facing orchestras across the country: classical music audiences are shrinking. The statistics are sobering.

National attendance at live classical performances has been cut nearly in half over the past five years, and even organizations like the Boston Symphony Orchestra are rethinking programming, pricing, and the concert experience to reconnect with today's audiences.

Is classical music still relevant? It's a question I hear often, and one that deserves more than a simple yes or no. My answer is yes. Absolutely. But perhaps not in the same way it was two hundred years ago. Classical music itself has not become less valuable. The world around it has changed.

When Beethoven was composing his symphonies, there were few ways to experience great music. A concert was one of the defining cultural events of a community. Today, we live in a world of unlimited entertainment. Movies, streaming services, podcasts, social media, sports, gaming, and millions of songs are available instantly on a device that fits in our pocket. We have access to more music than at any other point in human history.