--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over the years it has been my privilege…" description: "\"Over the years it has been my privilege to lead performances with Saint Louis, the National Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and so many other wonderful o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg" --- # Over the years it has been my privilege to lead… ![“Over the years it has been my privilege to lead performances with Saint Louis, the National Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and so many other wonderful organizations.” quote by Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg) > “Over the years it has been my privilege to lead performances with Saint Louis, the National Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and so many other wonderful organizations.” [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on the honor of directing major orchestras and the collaborative spirit of music performance. **In simple terms:** Proud to lead top orchestras. Key Takeaway Cherish collaborative leadership. Themes leadership music collaboration pride Mood proud grateful inspired Type testimonial reflective When to use this quote - orchestra rehearsals - guest conducting - music education - public outreach Key Concepts conducting artistic direction cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What does leading mean to you? - How do you balance ego and service? A Different Perspective May overlook personal fulfillment in favor of prestige. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) [Cleveland Orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland-orchestra-1006362/) [Lead Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-performances-1006363/) [Orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchestra/) [Orchestra Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchestra-wonderful-1006361/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Symphony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symphony/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Wonderful Organizations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful-organizations-1006360/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Being appointed as the next Gewandhauskapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester is a completely overwhelming honour. This extraordinary orchestra and its wonderful musicians are unique in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andris-nelsons/being-appointed-as-the-next-gewandhauskapellmeister-of-the/) [Andris Nelsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andris-nelsons/) > [Cleveland has a very bad reputation, but there's a lot of stuff that's left over from when there were very wealthy people - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/cleveland-has-a-very-bad-reputation-but-there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-that-s/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you mention the Cleveland Browns to me, it brings back vast memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/when-you-mention-the-cleveland-browns-to-me-it-brings-back-vast/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [Philadelphia might not want to hear this, but I grew up in Cleveland, and I think there are really a lot of similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/philadelphia-might-not-want-to-hear-this-but-i-grew-up-in-cleveland/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [Cleveland fans are great. They really do support their team, and they back them up no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/cleveland-fans-are-great-they-really-do-support-their-team-and-they/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [I love the normalcy of Cleveland. There's regular people there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-love-the-normalcy-of-cleveland-there-s-regular-people-there/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-difference-with-cleveland-is-that-the-racial-tension-was-not-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [There is a lot to do in Cleveland. It's just those December, January, February months that are tough. But there is a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/there-is-a-lot-to-do-in-cleveland-it-s-just-those-december-january/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [I love this city. There's Cleveland pride in it for me. Everyone has each other's backs here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-love-this-city-there-s-cleveland-pride-in-it-for-me-everyone-has/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [It's amazing to come here. I'm so happy that UFC is finally here. We've been starving for it in Cleveland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/it-s-amazing-to-come-here-i-m-so-happy-that-ufc-is-finally-here-we-ve/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [Cleveland is home... or was home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/cleveland-is-home-or-was-home/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [I seriously love Cleveland. It's a great city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-seriously-love-cleveland-it-s-a-great-city/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [I was actually worried about David Ross safety being in Cleveland. I thought I had to be a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-smith/i-was-actually-worried-about-david-ross-safety-being-in-cleveland-i/) [J. R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-smith/) ## More by Leonard Slatkin > [We need music to restore the human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/we-need-music-to-restore-the-human-spirit/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-don-t-really-think-about-retiring-i-will-retire-just-before-people/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [The convergence of the Rhone and Saone. Paul Bocuse. The birthplace of cinema. Chateauneuf-du-Pape just a few miles down the road. It does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/the-convergence-of-the-rhone-and-saone-paul-bocuse-the-birthplace-of/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [People know Detroit for the cars, but the suburban areas of the city are really beautiful. It's much more inhabitable than people think. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/people-know-detroit-for-the-cars-but-the-suburban-areas-of-the-city/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-knew-i-could-never-match-my-father-as-a-violinist-and-there-were/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [The role of an orchestra in the 21st century isn't just playing, it's about developing future audiences and performers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/the-role-of-an-orchestra-in-the-21st-century-isn-t-just-playing-it-s/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [We are a global society, and one does not have to be from Germany to give a great performance of Beethoven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/we-are-a-global-society-and-one-does-not-have-to-be-from-germany-to/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [There is no 'perfect' in music. If I ever came off the stage and felt it could not be better, it would then be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/there-is-no-perfect-in-music-if-i-ever-came-off-the-stage-and-felt-it/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [My first strong musical memory is of the Villa-Lobos Sixth Quartet which my parents were rehearsing. I remember that it reminded me of big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/my-first-strong-musical-memory-is-of-the-villa-lobos-sixth-quartet/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [To my mind and ear, there is simply nothing that compares to the musical sophistication of a late Beethoven, Bartok, Schubert or Brahms work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/to-my-mind-and-ear-there-is-simply-nothing-that-compares-to-the/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [There's not an orchestra in the world that doesn't have weaknesses. None of us can play everything well. The repertoire is just too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/there-s-not-an-orchestra-in-the-world-that-doesn-t-have-weaknesses/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [The life of any musician really doesn't fall into a normal schedule at all. Every week there are different rehearsals, different days and nights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/the-life-of-any-musician-really-doesn-t-fall-into-a-normal-schedule/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [Growing up in Hollywood, like I did, I have a passion and a love for the movies, so I go to the cinema all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/growing-up-in-hollywood-like-i-did-i-have-a-passion-and-a-love-for/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [On the corner of 57th and 7th Avenue sits the most famous concert hall in the world. No less a figure than when Tchaikovsky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/on-the-corner-of-57th-and-7th-avenue-sits-the-most-famous-concert/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [I have been long associated with British music. I have favoured it as my alternate music next to American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-have-been-long-associated-with-british-music-i-have-favoured-it-as/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) [Explore all 29 Leonard Slatkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) ## More Cleveland quotes > [I was actually worried about David Ross safety being in Cleveland. I thought I had to be a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-smith/i-was-actually-worried-about-david-ross-safety-being-in-cleveland-i/) [J. R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-smith/) > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [I seriously love Cleveland. It's a great city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-seriously-love-cleveland-it-s-a-great-city/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [Cleveland is home... or was home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/cleveland-is-home-or-was-home/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [It's amazing to come here. I'm so happy that UFC is finally here. We've been starving for it in Cleveland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/it-s-amazing-to-come-here-i-m-so-happy-that-ufc-is-finally-here-we-ve/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [I love this city. There's Cleveland pride in it for me. Everyone has each other's backs here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-love-this-city-there-s-cleveland-pride-in-it-for-me-everyone-has/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [There is a lot to do in Cleveland. It's just those December, January, February months that are tough. But there is a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/there-is-a-lot-to-do-in-cleveland-it-s-just-those-december-january/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-difference-with-cleveland-is-that-the-racial-tension-was-not-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I love the normalcy of Cleveland. There's regular people there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-love-the-normalcy-of-cleveland-there-s-regular-people-there/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Cleveland fans are great. They really do support their team, and they back them up no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/cleveland-fans-are-great-they-really-do-support-their-team-and-they/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [Philadelphia might not want to hear this, but I grew up in Cleveland, and I think there are really a lot of similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/philadelphia-might-not-want-to-hear-this-but-i-grew-up-in-cleveland/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [When you mention the Cleveland Browns to me, it brings back vast memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/when-you-mention-the-cleveland-browns-to-me-it-brings-back-vast/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [People move from Cleveland, then move back. It's something inside you. You can't explain it, but there's something inside - it's just home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-porter/people-move-from-cleveland-then-move-back-it-s-something-inside-you/) [Shawn Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-porter/) > [The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people. Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-truth-is-that-many-powerful-guys-have-fooled-around-while-working/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) [Browse all 272 Cleveland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Over the years it has been my privilege to lead performances with Saint Louis, the National Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and so many other wonderful organizations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Slatkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege-to-lead-performances-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleveland" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege-to-lead-performances-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/leonard-slatkin-21110_cleveland_over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege_876395.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Over the years it has been my privilege to lead performances with Saint Louis, the National Symphony…” — Leonard Slatkin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leonard Slatkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Over the years it has been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege-to-lead-performances-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/over-the-years-it-has-been-my-privilege-to-lead-performances-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```