Much of an artist’s work is solitary. It involves hours spent alone in the practice room, rehearsing, refining, improving. However, the act of bringing the work to you is a group project, requiring collaboration, cooperation, and trust.
Tonight we present our longtime partner Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, who have been regulars on our stages for decades. Orpheus is a radical experiment in musical democracy, proving for over fifty years what happens when exceptional artists gather with total faith in each other and in the creative process. Joining them is honorary orchestra member pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii. Their unique bond is forged in the act of dedicated listening: Orpheus has been performing without a conductor since its inception, and Tsujii has been blind since birth.
As our 2025-2026 season winds down, we want to thank you for being a part of our creative community. Today more than ever, the joy and connection that the arts bring us are an anchor in a turbulent world, a lens through which we can envision hope for what is to come, and a reminder of the importance of learning to listen.
I’ll see you in the lobby.
Ian Driver
Director, The Purchase PAC
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PAC Director Ian Driver’s Notes From the Lobby are published in each of our program books. Occasionally we share them in this space as well. This note was from the program book for Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Nobuyuki Tsujii, April 24, 2026.
