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

Soren Nyhus '22, Music Director

Soren Nyhus, a senior in Quincy House and a Music concentrator, is the Music Director of the Bach Society Orchestra for the 2021-2022 season. A pianist, cellist, composer, and conductor, he was a member of the Bach Society’s cello section for two years before being elected to the Music Director position. During the past year, he served as one of two Student Conductors for the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and was the Assistant Music Director for the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ production of H.M.S. Pinafore in Fall of 2019. He has studied conducting with Federico Cortese for two years and has participated in several summer programs, including the Miami Music Festival.

More about Soren

Our Officers

Our Musicians

Conductors

Violin

Viola

Cello

Flute & Piccolo

Oboe

Clarinet

French Horn

Trumpet

Competitions

The Bach Society Orchestra hosts two annual competitions - the Concerto competition and the Composition competition - to promote the recognition of musical excellence at Harvard.

More Details
Auditions

Interested in auditioning for the 2021-2022 season?
To learn more about the process, please click on the link below.

Auditions
Support the Orchestra

For 60 years, the Bach Society Orchestra has been made possible by people like you. Consider making a gift to the Orchestra to support the music you love.

Learn more

Bach Society Orchestra
Music Building
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

bachsoc@hcs.harvard.edu

© The Harvard University Bach Society Orchestra

The Bach Society Orchestra is a a student-run organization at Harvard College; The Harvard name is a trademark of the President and Fellows of Harvard College and are used with permission of Harvard University.