Quick: name a composer of classical music.
Likely, you named Beethoven or Mozart.
Now name a conductor.
Most people will have thought of Karajan or Bernstein.
All of those names are men who haven’t been around in decades, even centuries.
But let’s not forget the current generation.
![Composer Gala Flagello](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f25b232/2147483647/strip/true/crop/787x862+0+0/resize/880x964!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4f%2F33%2Fa8fd2ce1478aa3be100cfae63451%2Fflagello-gala-2-1.jpg)
Courtesy
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Gala Flagello
The Aspen Music Festival and School has long had a strong interest in current composers and conductors, seeking to prepare them for successful careers.
And this summer, Piotr Waclawik, a member of the conductors’ program at the Aspen Music Festival and School, conducted a brand new work from composer Gala Flagello called "Vitality."
Let’s take a closer look, and listen.
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/673e44b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1254x180+0+0/resize/880x126!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkajx%2Ffiles%2F202003%2Fedlis_neeson_credit_2019.png)