Maestro Henry Cheng had a fantastic time last week — three days with the incredible students of Alpharetta High School Orchestra as part of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra Educational Outreach with area high schools.

In Henry’s words: “What moves me most isn’t just the playing — it’s the moment students realize they’re capable of more than they thought. That shift in confidence. That spark. And that doesn’t happen by accident. I want to give a huge thank you to AHS Orchestra Director, Jake Hood. I could immediately tell that these students are deeply cared for; I was so impressed by how each student reflected Jake’s incredible character and leadership. Education isn’t an add-on. It’s infrastructure. When we step into rehearsal rooms, we’re not just refining notes — we’re building leadership, listening, resilience, and community. As Jake says, “It’s not just teaching music, it’s teaching life lessons.” The future of our art form isn’t somewhere far away. It’s already in these classrooms. I’m grateful to build together.”