"Conductors are performers"

In this quote, Michael Tilson Thomas is recommending that conductors are more than just simple musical directors - they are performers in their own right. A conductor's task is not simply to stand in front of a group of artists and wave their arms around. Rather, they must actively engage and communicate with the entertainers to bring out the best in them, much like a soloist would with an instrument. By conducting, they add their own creative analysis to the music, shaping the sound and assisting the psychological effect of each piece. So, in essence, conductors are not just leaders of a group, however also end up being an essential part of the music-making procedure.