For the music director of a full-time orchestra, planning and leading rehearsals, taking meetings to design future programming, and lunch dates with major donors are all in a day’s work. Beyond these responsibilities, building personal relationships with audiences and communities changes how an orchestra is perceived and celebrated locally. Music directors can’t or don’t always prioritize this role, but Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra’s new music director, has already led a weeklong education intensive that culminated in side-by-side performances with 54 music educators from 37 communities and taken time to make a video expressing his support for Twin Cities Pride. Look for more engagement reaching out to overlooked constituencies as Søndergård gets to know our community.