There are people who get paid to play the flute or bassoon. There are far more people who volunteer to participate in a community orchestra. For many, rehearsals or performances are the high points of their day.
The metaphor is powerful, because it teaches us that we all benefit from having a community orchestra in our lives. The 1900 people who worked together on The Carbon Almanac were all volunteers, showing up when they could, working together to build something important.
Digital connection makes it much easier to find your orchestra. And easier still to start one.