Classical music has always been a big part of Ikuo Nakajima¡¯s life. He never became a professional trumpeter, opting instead to become a managing engineer, but that hasn¡¯t stopped him from performing.
¡°There¡¯s an excitement that only an amateur orchestra can create,¡± says the 58-year-old, who was one of the founding members of the Japan Gustav Mahler Orchestra (JMO), comprised of nonprofessional musicians. ¡°The flawless performance of a professional orchestra is just too safe. Actually I find it a bit dispassionate and boring.¡±
Professional musicians have the benefit of being able to practice their craft constantly, so ¡°flawless performances¡± can come easy. And though Nakajima mentions a sense of ¡°dispassion,¡± it¡¯s likely that any pro will still profess love for what they do. When music is your hobby, though, then passion is really all that¡¯s driving you to continue.
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