It’s not because I don’t love my job.
I love making music. I love teaching, encouraging, cajoling, guiding, and supporting my students. I love virtually every aspect of my work.
But the pace I’ve chosen is a little bit…intense. Events pile up on top of each other, especially this time of year.
That’s part of it, and the other part is that the chance to start anew every year is quite magical. While I wouldn’t mind directing an ensemble that stays mostly static – growing and deepening with each season – I love the renewal that comes from a brand new ensemble year. The chance to try new things, to reinvent, and just to start fresh only comes about because we have a summer break.
It’s only because of the break that we can take the pace in the school year that we do. And it’s only because of the break that every student and every teacher can take that fresh start every fall.
I’ll miss my students terribly, but I’m still counting down to the finish line.