In the pregnant pause between when the conductor bows to the audience, and then turns, raising his baton, to face more than 100 musicians with their instruments poised, it can feel as if time has stopped. The anticipation of a whole concert of magical music to follow, the culmination of much concentrated work, gives way to relief mixed with excitement as the sound that follows is full and impressive.
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All photographs in this article were taken by Dr Murray Stapleton, Plastic Surgeon, Melbourne.