So over 10 years ago, as a beginning music student at Florida International University, I was part of the choral group that met on monday nights.  I joined because a friend of mine, John Kline, had told me they were going to do "Carmina Burana."  I had no idea what he was talking about until he played me a clip...I had heard it in the film EXCALIBUR, and thought it was originally written for the movie.  He was quick to let me know it wasn't, and that I should stop talking if I was going to speak in Stupid.

SO I joined the monday night choir.  I had no idea, nor care, that the Mexican conductor Eduardo Mata was conducting the piece.  The rehearsals were run by someone else...until the last two.  

The day Eduardo Mata showed up, the guy who prepared us was obviously nervous, and after running us through the piece in front of Eduardo, nearly wiped the sweat off of his face when done.

I was curious as to why this guy was such a big deal...until he took over...Man...he took over.

He lifted his right hand, and with a downbeat, the whole thing changed...if he lifted his arms, the choir was right there with him, as one would feel when stepping on the gas pedal of a convertible Mercedes after driving an 89 Corolla for 10 years.  I began to realize this guy was a really big deal.

There are two impressions I have of him.  The strongest one was how, during our performance with the New World Symphony, I could have sworn while he was conducting, he was only looking at me the entire time, and not at any of the other 100 or so singers, to say nothing of the other 80 or so orchestra members.  After the first show, I talked to a few friends, and they told me I was wrong, that he had been looking at them the whole time...

The second image was how after our final performance, John and myself approached him to thank him for the experience.  What I loved was how receptive and personable he was...not a high and mighty type at all (he could have easily played that role).  

I had "discovered" the amazing Eduardo Mata, much like one feels like they "discover" The Beatles, or Led Zeppelin. 

A few months later, he died in a plane crash near Cuernavaca, Mexico. A great loss to the people of Mexico, and the music world. 

When I think of him, I think of two things: How lucky I was to actually meet and work under his direction, and most importantly, how good a musician one can actually strive to be.