"I saw your picture in the paper," said Jimmy to my 12-year-old student. "Are you famous in your school now?" Jenna, not quite believing the real James Galway was talking to her, gave the most detailed, articulate answer she could muster: "No."

This small exchange characterized the overwhelming love and attention that James Galway gave us last night during his concert in Chapel Hill. He and his outstanding ensemble played a gorgeous program of Baroque music, but during intermission, he came to the front of the hall between the first row of seats and the stage, where my group of fourteen children and adults were waiting. Jimmy made an announcement about Flutewise magazine, and then he and Jeannie joined us as we played Brian Boru's March, the Merry Widow Waltz, Loch Lomond, the New World Symphony, a Welsh folk song, and the Galway Piper.

Between two pieces, Jimmy played a run of notes. "Hey," I quipped, "stay with the rest of the group!"

"I got too excited," he responded.

I'd expected that the audience would be walking, talking, and doing what most audiences do during intermission. Instead, the entire hall of 1600 people stood and listened attentively, enchanted by the most famous flute player in the world playing making music with children and amateur adults, looking as though he was enjoying himself immensely.

At the end of our performance, he told me that I was the best conductor he'd played under all week. I responded, "I don't know a thing about conducting. I was just waving my hand in the air."

"No, no, Herbert von Karajan would be proud," he joked.