Roderick Cox says he is living the dream. Today the Macon native is the assistant conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra. Ten or so years ago he was a band student stubbornly teaching himself how to play French horn. Cox recently came back home to guest conduct the Macon Symphony Orchestra. While there he took time to talk to music students at his high school alma mater, Central High School, about the rewards of music beyond the pop charts. His message? Classical music should cross lines of race and class. And it pays pretty well, too.

Tags: Grant Blankenship, classical music, orchestra, conductor, education