SLSO Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister steps into the spotlight as guest, joined by host and audio engineer Kyle Pyke, for a behind-the-scenes look at a milestone moment—his SLSO subscription debut on the podium. The conversation explores the excitement and pressure of leading the orchestra, the journey to conducting, and the perspective shift from host to guest. Hollister also shares insights into shaping the energy of Gabriella Smith’s Tumblebird Contrails, approaching Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 from a pianist’s lens, and navigating the emotional arc of Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony.