As I came to New York, it was for me a new beginning. To discover what people are living here. What do they need, what do they expect, what would they like to be the image and the performance of the New York Philharmonic?

I always imagined that to bring an orchestra to play together is not enough for a conductor.

And I always tried to be not a star. To be someone who people like to talk to.

Even my family laughed at me because they thought this young guy who's always stuttering in front of other people should be in front of 100 musicians and talk to them and leading them.

If every school would hire two more music teachers, we would need two fewer police officers.

The message of music was also the first thing what I learned from my first teacher. She was an organist too and she was very devoted to what she played, so she had a respect for every piece and she felt that she is not allowed to add something of her own.

What I never overcame is a kind of shyness.