At Indiana University in Bloomington, just months before a strange new virus changes everything, Thomas Wilkins is teaching orchestra conducting. Students practice by conducting a small student orchestra, while their teacher watches and guides. Wilkins’ colleague, Jorja Fleezanis, believes the ideal conductor is like a rider on a well-trained horse—letting go of the orchestra when necessary and taking control when needed. Thomas helps a struggling student understand that conducting is more than just keeping time. It requires a “human connection.”

View the full film here: Beyond the Baton.