The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the University of Calgary to completely revamp learning for the student body. For musicians and ensembles, this meant a drastic change to their approach to music and performance. This is the first year that the University of Calgary Orchestra — directed by Professor Edmond Agopian — had no live performances. Removing the group setting and having to play in isolation was a radically different experience than students were used to. “I would compare it to substituting a hiking experience with walking on a treadmill while looking at pictures of mountains,” says Agopian. He has been the conductor of the orchestra for the past 30 years. “The only way to run orchestra rehearsals and performances is as a group, in-person — there is no alternative.”