Chefin’ with Stefan @ Home with the Maestro
Stefan Sanders Music Director
On Thursday, March 12th, an hour after their dress rehearsal, the New York Philharmonic (NYP) announced the cancellation of that evening’s performance as well as the remainder of their performances through the rest of the month. Kela, my awesome wife, and I were so excited to be in New York together that week, where I was working as the assistant conductor for the NYP and guest conductor Valery Gergiev. With reports of the virus beginning to surge in the New York area, we left the next day and, barring a couple of road trips to Fayetteville, NC, where I also serve as music director, we have been home in Spartanburg ever since. This time at home has been a revelatory experience; mandating a period of sacrifice, reflection, and creativity for us. Accustomed to a busy travel schedule and the circuit of energy that flows around rehearsing and performing regularly, the abrupt halt was difficult. Here we were, suddenly isolating at home, learning about this virus, taking precautions to keep ourselves and others healthy, and beginning to figure out what the next steps would be for our Philharmonic. Throughout the last several months our thoughts kept returning to the concept of health. From personal to public to that of an organization, health has revealed its value in every way to us. Personally, this time has inspired an even deeper affection for nutritious food and a craving for daily physical activity. As you can 18
