Raising a small child as a woman while travelling 10 months out of the year would, I believe, be something I would not be able or even want to do, although with the amazing example of Leila, I am no longer so sure.

When you arrive at your destination, pay absolutely no attention to the thing people call jetlag.

I see no reason to hide who I am or what I look like.

Our dad was a great guy and we will never forget him.

For many years, the government of Canada has massively supported orchestras and the arts in general.

I had been playing since I was 2 years old, never remembering a life without music, always playing everything naturally and mostly by ear, and all the grownups wanted were more scales and drudgery out of me.

A good example of how it must have been is today's world of conducting, which is still utterly dominated by men, and the prejudice the few female conductors have to battle even today is astounding.