I recently read a post about the power that a conductor has over his or her ensemble. The article stated that no other position has similar authority. The president has to consult with his cabinet before making a decision, a baseball manager has to report to his general manager, and a CEO has to report to his shareholders. However, a conductor has been entrusted with the authority to make decisions for his ensemble on his/her own, without consulting with anyone.
As a choral conductor, I agree that I have power over my ensemble. In fact, I am constantly amazed at how much power I have. There are times that it is downright scary. If the singers are too loud, I ask them to sing softer, and they do -- no questions asked. If I want crisper diction, I ask for it, and they deliver. If I want a more flowing, legato sound, I show them with my gestures, and they produce it. All of this is done without argument.
While wielding all of that power is great, it can also be disastrous. During a performance, if I give the choir a cutoff, they cut off -- even if it's in the wrong place. If my gestures indicate that the basses are supposed to come in, they will come in, even if it's in the wrong spot. Once a mistake like that is made, the choir looks to me, their leader, to fix it. If I can't fix it, then the performance is ruined.
My singers have entrusted me with their success. They are willing to follow me because they believe that I will help them be the best that they can be. I am the expert -- that's why I am their leader. While some conductors may take advantage of that role and use it for their own success and glory, I find it to be very humbling. The fact that my choir has chosen me to lead them is the greatest honor they can give me. It is an honor that I accept with the deepest gratitude and humility.
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