Even though it’s already October, I still feel like I’m catching up with the whirlwind of this past summer. In July and August, while visiting family and friends, I got to see several shows in The Netherlands, Mexico City and London. Some of the highlights included Hadestown, Moulin Rouge (in Dutch), El Rey León (The Lion King), Back to the Future, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. 

Getting to watch others create magic on stage is incredibly inspiring, and it reminded me of the why behind what I do as a music director. It also got me thinking about how my current work relates to something I’ve loved since I was a kid.

El Rey León, Teatro Telcel, Mexico City

Before I ever thought about being a musician, I thought about being an emergency medicine doctor. Until I discovered that Organic Chemistry II wasn’t quite up my alley. And before that, I had my eyes set on marine biology. That didn’t quite pan out either. And way before that, I dreamed of being an author. 

In fact, when I was around ten, I submitted a manuscript for a sequel to Judy Blume’s classic children’s novel Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to a major publisher. While I wasn’t offered a multi-million dollar deal, I did realize how much I loved creating stories. 

And I still do. In fact, I work in musical theatre because I love storytelling. And I believe that music has a powerful ability to elevate stories and heighten their impact on audiences. 

The novel that sparked my writing interest

I also enjoy the collaborative process needed to bring a production to life. Directors, composers, librettists, choreographers, vocal coaches, sound engineers, dramaturgs…this is just a handful of the talent and expertise required to create the magic of live performance. 

The saying “it takes a village” definitely applies here. And I love being a part of this creative mix — helping to create an environment where everyone can bring their best to the table (and to the stage!).

In future posts, I’ll delve more into the specifics of what a music director does, and share some notes from the trenches (read: tech week).

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you: Is there anything you want to learn more about when it comes to the work of a music director? Drop a comment below!