In the rarified world of classical music, the road to success is a daunting one. Especially for young conductors.

CONDUCTING LIFE follows the improbable journey of Roderick Cox from his childhood in Macon, Georgia into the classical music world, as he tirelessly pursues his dream — to secure a top position with a major orchestra.

Roderick’s story is about the passion, sacrifice, and courage it takes to succeed in an elusive profession with limited opportunities. Filmed over seven years,

Diane Moore's intimate portrait captures the highs and lows of award-winning conductor Roderick Cox’s quest to achieve mastery in a discipline that has traditionally overlooked artists of color.

Part of our Short Docs 2: LEGACY Program

Director Diane Moore

Director's Statement:

Roderick Cox faced formidable odds in his pursuit to achieve mastery in the competitive field of orchestral conducting, and I felt it was important to share his personal and musical journey with others, with the hope of changing lives for other musicians of color pursuing their dream in classical music.

I wanted this film to have its own language, both tonally and structurally, and have audiences experience the beautiful emotional moments of music making and Roderick’s passion for music.

This was not a documentary about Roderick but more about making a documentary with Roderick and how music transformed his life.