I almost always love it.
Coming back from a break, you can feel apprehensive about an ensemble: they have been away from the music, away from each other, away from the rigors of rehearsal for a length of time. (For me, this Winter Break was even longer because of COVID!)
But I find that most of the time, the apprehension was unnecessary. Ensemble members return to the rehearsal space excited to get back to the music, rested from their break, and often they’ve even had some musical things settle in a new way over the break – they actually improve!
Don’t be apprehensive about the first rehearsal after break. Be excited. This is the beginning of the next exciting segment of your musical journey.