“Khudyev chose them for that purpose then displayed his own artistic magic in shaping and pacing the students through their tricky parts. For the Junior group he was as much teacher as conductor. For the Honors, he was fully the artist the community has already found him to be, a man of exceptional talent and charisma. Indeed, in Liadov’s fragile and magical The Enchanted Lake, the orchestra glowed with delicate color and confidence.”
“Orchestra displayed a professionalism that even the toughest critics could only marvel at. Moreover, Khudyev added many of his own interpretive details of phrasing and dynamics that enhanced the listening experience as much as they honored the composer’s plan.”
