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Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has revealed that he gained his first conducting post aged just 11.
The charismatic Venezuelan conductor appeared on US television last night, in conversation with Jay Leno, and told him about his musical beginnings. When he was five years old his favourite game was lining his toys up, putting on some music and conducting them.
At 11, Dudamel moved on from toys to people. When the conductor was late for an orchestral rehearsal, Dudamel pushed himself forward. A few months later they took him on as Assistant Conductor.
Dudamel also told host Jay Leno that his trademark hairstyle was never intentional, but simply evolved when his wife told him not to bother getting his hair cut.