About the Orchestra
The Bach Society Orchestra, Harvard's premier undergraduate chamber orchestra, is devoted to the study and performance of works for smaller orchestras, from intimate chamber pieces to mid-sized symphonies, taken from a wide range of historical periods. Each season includes four performances throughout the year, often including student and professional collaborations with guest soloists or Harvard choral groups.
Popularly known as BachSoc, the Bach Society Orchestra is staffed, managed, and conducted entirely
by students. Each year, the members of the orchestra select a student, always an undergraduate, to
be their conductor for the following year. In turn, at the beginning of the new year the inaugurated
conductor reauditions every member of the orchestra, ensuring that the quality of the orchestra
remains high. BachSoc's rehearsals and concerts provide a refreshingly egalitarian ethos combined
with the highest standards of musical performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Music Director
Sasha Scolnik-Brower '17, Music Director
Sasha Scolnik-Brower, a junior in Winthrop House, is returning as Music Director for the Bach Society Orchestra's 2016-2017 season. Sasha has previously conducted Harvard's Mozart Society Orchestra and the Phillips Academy Orchestras. As a cellist, Sasha is currently enrolled in the dual degree program of Harvard University and the New England Conservatory.
More about SashaOur Officers
- Juhwan Seo '17, jseo [at] college.harvard.edu Production
- Mengting Qiu '18, mengtingqiu [at] college.harvard.edu Financial
- Jessica Yamada '18, jessicayamada [at] college.harvard.edu Publicity & Community
- Ramsey Fahs '18, cfahs [at] college.harvard.edu Communications & Development
- Theresa Rizk '17, trizk [at] college.harvard.edu Librarian
- Eunice Lee '19, yookyunglee [at] college.harvard.edu Tickets, Merchandise, & Marketing
- Alex Bartlett '17, abartlett [at] college.harvard.edu Competitions & Stage Coordinator
- Christine Xu '17, christinexu [at] college.harvard.edu Personnel
- JingJing Zhu '19, jingjingzhu [at] college.harvard.edu Social & Social Media
- Matt Finlayson '19, matthewfinlayson [at] college.harvard.edu Co-Design
- Lisa Lu '19, lisalu [at] college.harvard.edu Co-Design
- Anna Gibbs '19, annagibbs [at] college.harvard.edu Co-Publicity
- Julia Strauss '19, juliastrauss [at] college.harvard.edu Co-Publicity
- Wayne Zhao '17, zhao01 [at] college.harvard.edu Alumni Liason
- Phelan Yu '19, phelanyu [at] college.harvard.edu Webmaster
Our Musicians
Violin
- Theresa Rizk '17, Concertmaster, The Renton Family Chair
- Molly Finlayson '17, Principal 2nd, The Jessica S. Lin Memorial Chair
- Aaron Shi '20
- Adele Woodmansee '19
- Allison Kao '20
- Andrew Liu '17
- August Chen '20
- Beverly Ge '20
- Jackie Ho '20
- Jennifer Ban '20
- Jessica Yamada '18
- JingJing Zhu '19
- Mengting Qiu '18
- Motoy Kuno-Lewis '19
- Olivia Nie '20
- Phelan Yu '19
- Sophia Caldera '19
Viola
- Talia Boylan '17, Principal, The George Goldberg Chair
- Alex Bartlett '17
- Evan Mackay '19
- Melissa Li '19
- Nathan Press '18
- Anna Gibbs '19
- Zeke Benshirim '19
Cello
- Juhwan Seo '17, Principal, The Paul Kang Chair
- Christine Xu '17
- David Seong '18
- Kristen Shim '17
- Tomislav Zabcic-Matic '19
Double Bass
- John Bourjaily '17
Flute & Piccolo
- Jessica Herrmann '17
- Eunice Lee '19
- Wayne Zhao '17
Oboe
- Theresa Byrne '18
- Ramsey Fahs '18
Clarinet
- Brennan Dizdar '19, Principal, The Douglas Davis & Rachel Littman Chair
- Matthew Parsons '20
- Raymond Hu '20
Bassoon
- Julia Strauss '19
French Horn
- Marco Catipovic GSAS
- Katie Kixmoeller '18
- Anna Peng '20
- Alex Kelser '19
Trumpet
- Will Tobias '16, Principal, The Roy F. & Florence Gootenberg, Class of 1949 Chair
Timpani
- Justin Cavitt '17
