Before all the holidays converged at the same time, the first half of December was relatively quiet for Cindy and me, except for one conducting assignment that turned out to be very interesting.

For the past several years, I have been doing some teaching at the Manhattan School of Music. The conservatory is housed in the same building where my mother, uncle, brother, and I all studied while attending Juilliard. Every time I enter the door at 122nd Street and Claremont Avenue, I am reminded of the rich tradition of music that has emerged from those storied halls.

I could spend this entire essay writing about an incredible trip to Thailand and Bali—the floating market, the train market, the monkey reserve, a royal wedding, and so much more—but I will let Cindy share a few photos and leave the rest up to your imagination.

January saw me back on the podium in three cities, each in Japan. The programs were varied in content but all dispatched with expertise by the orchestras I led. Since 1983, I have been coming to Tokyo on a regular basis to work with the NHK. On this visit, I led the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, one of the eleven professional ensembles that exist here.