Conductors are often thought of as wizards, holding a wand and casting spells. It doesn’t help that a lot of the incantations are often in mysterious foreign languages. Any good conductor could be a wizard casting spells to create good music. But, behind the furious arm waving you see on stage is careful and thoughtful musicality and intention, deep connection of cognition and muscular movement, and many, many years of refinement in training programs, the hallmark of which is a solid college or university program...
https://www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2018/03/12/question-it-what-u-of-ts-director-of-choral-activities-means-for-choral-music-in-canada/