Most orchestras have more than 64 musicians — and just one conductor. Though they don’t play an instrument, the conductor stands at the center, leading the performance with only a baton. But what exactly does a conductor do? To find out, we spoke with Professor Jintak Moon, who conducts the orchestra at Gachon University. “I’m Jintak Moon, and I conduct the orchestra at Gachon University,” he said. 1. What does conducting mean to you? Moon shared: “To me, conducting is all about connection. It connects the composer with the musicians, the musicians with each other, and the musicians with the audience — so in the end, it links the composer all the way to the listeners.” 2.What’s the conductor’s role in an orchestra? "to keep everything running smoothly, help the musicians stay in sync and make the music flow in the best way possible.” 3.What’s the most important thing a conductor should have? “First, it’s personality,” Moon said. “A good conductor should be a good person — that way, the musicians trust and follow them, and better music happens naturally. Second, a conductor should be a good teacher, someone who can guide and teach during rehearsals." 4.Does personality affect the music? “Absolutely,” he continued. “A conductor’s personality shapes the mood and flow of the music. Sometimes, you even need to ‘act’ a bit to bring out certain feelings.” 5.Can the conductor change the way a piece sounds or feels? Definitely. Like I mentioned before, the conductor influences both the overall direction and the quality of the music. And since their personality affects their style of conducting, they end up shaping a lot of the music itself. 6.What’s going through your head while conducting? “When I’m with students, I think about how to avoid mistakes — where I need to give clearer cues. But sometimes, the best results come when I stop thinking too much and just let the music guide me.” 7.What’s been the hardest part of conducting? “It’s tough when the musicians aren’t getting along, but you still have to lead the group and make music together.” 8.Lastly, why did you decide to become a conductor? “I studied piano first, but I was drawn to the scale and depth of orchestral music. I fell in love with creating something so big and powerful.” So next time you watch an orchestra, don’t just listen. Dare to take a moment watching the conductor. Then, they’re doing far more than you might think.