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Musicians of Rochester
Musicians of Rochester serves as a portrait of musical life in and around the greater Rochester, New York region.

Musicians of Rochester: Neil Varon

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM | By Bridget Kinneary
Published August 26, 2016 at 3:22 PM EDT
Neil Varon, Professor of Conducting & Ensembles; Conductor, Eastman Philharmonia, Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, and Eastman Chamber Orchestra at University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, photographed in Hatch Hall January 28, 2014. // photo by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester
J. Adam Fenster/J. Adam Fenster / University of
/
esm.rochester.edu
Neil Varon, Professor of Conducting & Ensembles; Conductor, Eastman Philharmonia, Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, and Eastman Chamber Orchestra at University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, photographed in Hatch Hall January 28, 2014. // photo by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester

Neil started improvising on a baby piano at the age of 5. His mentors, conductors Leonard Bernstein and Herbert van Karajan, illustrated the importance of two monumental tasks: feeling/understanding the music and rehearsing it economically. Advice for young musicians: don’t spend time wanting to “be somebody,” you already are.
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