Sandeep Das, guest artist of the March 8 “Vibrant Colors” concert, grew up learning Indian classical music and has played those concerts around the world since 1990. Meeting cellist Yo-Yo Ma — “one of the greatest human beings of our time,” Das said — exposed him to the world of Western classical music. “Before then, I didn’t know what an orchestra was, I had never played with one.”

John Williams’ film scores and themes are deeply ingrained in our entertainment DNA. Just try hearing “Dun-Dun…. Dun-Dun” without feeling the fearful dread of a shark’s approach or the cymbal-crashing, trumpet-blaring start of Stars Wars’ Main Title without conjuring that galaxy far, far away.