Outlast Me

In everything I do, “build it to outlast me” is an organizing principle.

I want the ensembles I have started or directed to continue after I finish leading them.

I want the music I write to continue to be of use after I’m not conducting it.

I want the words I say and write to help people after I stop writing.

I want the singers I conduct to keep singing after they move on from my ensembles.

Some small part of me is whispering, every day, “Outlast me. Outlast me.”