Last week, I had the privilege of attending a stunning performance of  Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue  at Melbourne’s iconic Hamer Hall—brought to life by the artistry of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO). This concert, part of their Gershwin & Shostakovich tour, was more than just a cultural outing.

It was a musical awakening—and a professional one.

Pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, trumpet virtuoso David Elton, and the ACO delivered Rhapsody in Blue, conducted by Richard Tognetti. It was inspiring on every level.

Watch the short version of the performance here(Courtesy of the Australian Chamber Orchestra )

From Music to Management

As I listened, it struck me: watching an orchestra perform with such unity, presence, and purpose mirrors what we aspire to in project delivery. Every contributor brought specialist musical talent. Every section delivered with clarity. And above all, they worked together—without stepping on each other’s cues.

For CIOs and Chief People Officers delivering large HRIS or Payroll transformations, there’s a lesson in this.

What if our programs moved like Rhapsody in Blue—in harmony, with intention, and as one?

Specialist Talent in Harmony

You can’t substitute a violinist for a trumpet player. Likewise, you can’t expect your Payroll lead to run data migration or your HR change manager to oversee application security roles.

Every role in a program — must know their part and play in time.

And yet, it’s not just about capability. It’s about presence, rhythm, and mutual respect.

Musicians rehearse, refine, and listen more than they play. They know when to lead and when to hold back.

So do high-performing project teams.

Projects don’t fall apart from lack of effort. They fall apart from misalignment.

That night reminded me how delivery becomes performance when:

• Each team member knows their role
• Transitions are smooth and intentional
• The whole team is present—not just attending
• Everyone is connected to a common business outcome

What Rhapsody in Blue Taught Me as a PM

As a Project Manager, the performance gave me a new lens on project leadership.

It reminded me that successful project delivery is not about micromanaging tasks. It’s about conducting complexity.

It’s about:

• Holding the rhythm when energy dips
• Pausing to listen before pushing forward
• Empowering each contributor to lead with confidence
• Setting the tempo, not stealing the spotlight

Watching the ACO, I left with three key insights:

1. Lead with structure, not rigidity
2.  Trust specialist talent—but guide alignment
3. Orchestrate clarity, not just attendance

A Call to CIOs & CPOs

CIOs — You don’t need to play every instrument. But you must ensure your delivery leads, vendors, and support teams are playing from the same score.

Chief People Officers — You know that payroll accuracy, compliance, and employee experience all depend on timing, transitions, and cohesion—not isolated excellence.

This concert reminded me that programs succeed when technical execution meets creative coordination.

Let Your Next Project Move Like Music

Whether it’s HRIS, Payroll, or broader IT transformation—treat your delivery like a live performance:

• Assign your best talent
• Rehearse your transitions
• Respect the rhythm
• Conduct with presence