Campus comes alive with NextGen's sound of music

In addition to his performance with the full orchestra, Wang also took part in a chamber music performance. The piece they played was Mendelssohn's Octet for Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 20, a masterpiece that brought together eight students from Tianjin Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the New England Conservatory.

"New friends always spark new ideas," Wang says. "We constantly experiment with different interpretations until we find the ideal musical expression."

Wang also admires the conducting style of Robertson, who used metaphors in a musical setting during the rehearsals.

"The conductor would say, 'Imagine waking up slowly, stretching your limbs with no rush. The day is yours. Play with ease and let the music breathe.' He let us feel the music in a relatable, tangible way, which was so much fun," says Wang.

Jacob Glaser, a 21-year-old clarinetist who is currently studying at Rice University in New York, also joined the ensemble.

"The first rehearsal was simply great. Everyone was listening to each other, communicating, and preparing their parts really well. It's been a very positive experience," says Glaser. "It was easy for me to experiment with how I want to sound and try out different things with people supporting me."