Happy Birthday, Maestro!

May 8, 2022 Lincoln, Nebraska.

Upon returning from intermission during their season finale, "Renée Fleming in Concert," concertmaster Anton Miller and Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra had a surprise for their maestro, Edward Polochick, whose birthday is May 22.

"Happy Birthday" arr. Damon Thomas Lee, 2022

[straffberry]

i might have found my new favorite thing - surprise symphony happy birthday videos!

[SnowDriftGD]

the brass entrance at 0:55 is actually sublime oml

[alanstrange]

The maestro went nuts (understandably so!) and his reaction, together with the piece itself (and the actions/antics of the concertmaster!), are priceless!

[oscarramage]

I love how the violinist starts conducting & then the actual conductor ends up giving him his baton

[eunsoojang]

Damn imagine them practicing this for weeks, if not months, in secret just to give him a best bday present

[ripple-effect-mlp]

Wow! What a beautiful arrangement, both in song and in prank. But of course, the two stars were the conductor and the semi-conductor (pun intended). The conductor's reactions were priceless; I can practically hear his thoughts going "What is even happening?" and "Well, I'm out of a job now." The violinist who not only began the arrangement, then began to conduct it ( even using the baton when the maestro presented it to him mid-performance), and finally offering his violin only to take it away. Everything about it was hilarious and priceless!

[mitchellclark]

So pure. That has to be the best reaction to one of these I've seen. And such a varied arrangement!

[brodiger]

I love how the audience started laughing right when they were playing happy birthday it was classic 😂😃

[reilea]

The first violin conducting, that was

[divaesther]

Happy Birthday, dear Maestro! It was wonderful to see this amazing surprise by your fabulous orchestra! You deserve it! Great job, Anton!

[lanilexander]

The conductor is like "I haven't even started conducting. Why are you playing already?"

[lisalafayette]

do I begin?!?!?!? The fantastic arrangement / presentation, the musicians somehow keeping this a secret from the last (but not least) the joyous and grateful appreciation shown by the *MAESTRO!!!*
This was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes!!! *BEAUTIFUL!!!!*

[davidneely]

That was a Fantastic concert! So much fun!! And a Happy Birthday Maestro!

[ЕвгенияКрупнова]

Это самое блистательное исполнение! Браво! ❤😂🎉
Всем любви и здоровья!

[mdr]

This is one of the happiest videos on the YouTube

[arctik]

It's such a beautiful moment when the maestro embraces it so visibly and creates lighthearted comedy with his quick thinking.

[mjr]

It’s so beautiful to see dear grannies and grandpas in here playing music and enjoying :D

[TheNESChristianGamer]

Best orchestral version of Happy Birthday ever!

[catherinebernard]

That is one best grand happy birthday song I ever heard.

[guoyangshen]

such a perfect performance, how has this not gone viral yet