FAQ

How big is the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra?

HRO is the biggest orchestra on campus – it has a little over 100 members!

What is the time commitment?

HRO rehearses every Tuesday and Thursday evening, from 7:00 to 9:30pm throughout the academic year (excluding finals periods) in preparation for five concerts. Musicians are expected to be in the hall by 6:45 and tuned and ready to play by 6:55. Although HRO is a sizable time commitment, plenty of our members still manage to be very active with numerous other organizations on campus; members of HRO write for the Crimson, compete on the ballroom dance team, lead public service organizations, and participate in hundreds of other groups as well…some even participate in other orchestras and musical organizations on campus. Being a member of HRO, though, does mean that it would be extremely difficult to be a part of another very-high commitment group, such as a varsity sports team or an a cappela group.

Where does HRO rehearse and perform?

HRO makes its music in the beautiful and historic Sanders Theatre in Memorial Hall, and we are fortunate to give all five of our concerts here. Most of our rehearsals are in Sanders Theatre, but occasionally we rehearse in Lowell Lecture Hall as well.

Does HRO tour?

Yes, indeed! HRO has had a long-standing tradition of touring. Over the past four decades, the ensemble has embarked upon successful tours to Mexico, Canada, the former Soviet Union, East Asia, Central Europe, Italy, and various other locations here in the US; our most recent trip was to Montreal and Quebec in the summer of 2004. Generally, tours occur once every four years, usually in June following commencement exercises. The HRO is currently planning a tour to South Africa.

What does HRO play?

Pretty much everything in the symphonic repertoire. You can check out this year’s program by clicking here. Highlights from recent seasons have included Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Mahler's Symphony No. 1, Brahms' Symphony No. 2, Copland's Appalachian Spring, and lots more! Once a season, we will invite a guest artists to perform a solo with us; in the past, we've have had the privilege of collaborating with such renowned musicians as pianist Robert Levin, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Lynn Chang. HRO also holds an annual concerto competition which is open to all undergraduate musicians; the winner performs with the HRO on its March concert. (Note: this year the HRO concerto competition winner will perform in the October concert. For more info click here.) We also generally play 1 or 2 modern pieces every year; members of HRO often comment how grateful they are for the exposure to these modern works that they would not have otherwise gotten to know.

How hard is it to get in?

This is a difficult question...a lot depends on what instrument you play, and how many openings there are year to year. In the winds and brass, the number of openings often range from zero some years to a full section in other years. This year, for example, we had no openings for trumpet, while two seasons ago the entire bassoon section consisted of new members! There are usually more strings accepted – this year, six cellists were accepted, eight violists, and about fifteen violinists, although, again, the number of openings can vary pretty widely from season to season. We always name alternates, and usually end up taking many of these.

DO NOT be intimidated about auditioning! Our auditions are actually pretty low-key (seriously! see next question), and you’ll never know unless you try...we want everyone who has considered playing for HRO to audition with us!!! This year, we accepted about 40 new members!

How do I audition?

Auditions are held during Freshman Week, a few days before classes begin. E-mail current HRO president Christine Barron ( hro@hcs.harvard.edu ) during the summer to find out the specific dates. You sign up for auditions during the freshman activities fair which takes place the day of freshman registration; look for our table in the "Music" section. Auditions are 5-10 minutes long and you can play anything you want…our conductor, Dr. James Yannatos (“Dr. Y”), hears all the auditions and likes to hear different elements of playing, so it's usually best to choose a piece or pieces with fast, technical spots, as well as slow, lyrical sections. You may play one piece or more than one. And relax, no scales or sight-reading :)

Are there opportunities to play chamber music?

Yes! Chamber music is a huge part of HRO - students can do chamber music by registering for Music 93r, a credit-bearing course specifically geared towards members of HRO. Chamber groups receive an hour-long coaching every week, and most will rehearse separately on their own during the week as well, all in preparation for performance of a work in its entirety which will occur at the end of the semester. Students may form groups on their own and select their own repertoire. All are welcome to participate! And beyond Music 93r, plenty enough HRO members are ready and willing to sight-read chamber music at any time, just for the fun of it.

Is there more to HRO than just music-making?

Definitely. HRO is much more than just an orchestra, and there are lots things that go one besides music. Our social committee organizes lots of fun things for the orchestra members: parties after every concert, outings to nearby restaurants and concerts, and special trips like ice-skating. We have a big-sibling program within the orchestra to help integrate new members into the orchestra. There is also a retreat at the beginning of the year for all members of HRO, where we work on repertoire for the coming year, play chamber music, play sports and games, and party!

The social committee is just one of our larger Operations Committee which helps to keep the orchestra running smoothly. HRO is a big group, and completely student-run, so there are plenty of ways to get involved - we have a very active outreach program, which connects HRO members with local elementary schools in order to perform for and educate local schoolchildren; we produce our own programs, subscription brochures, posters; we do our own publicity, we even plan our own tours, among many other things. There are over 20 members of the orchestra who are part of our Operations Committee. Musicians in HRO usually say that the more you get involved in the orchestra, the more you get out of it and appreciate the experience. If you’re interested in learning more about any of these positions, e-mail the people listed on the contact page and ask them what’s involved!

What makes HRO different from other orchestras at Harvard?

There are many musical opportunities at Harvard, so this is an important question to ask. First, HRO is the biggest and oldest orchestra – it is Harvard's biggest symphony orchestra (the oldest symphony orchestra in the country, in fact!), and thus the repertoire is often different from the other orchestras' on campus. It can play Beethoven and Mahler symphonies very well, but would never or rarely play Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi, on the other hand. The size also has implications for the social life. There are many people to meet in the orchestra, and there is a wide variety of interests and personalities. Because the orchestra is so big, it is unlikely you will get to know everyone in the orchestra well. Lastly, we have a professional conductor, while most other groups on campus have student conductors. Some musicians at Harvard would prefer to work under a peer, while those who choose to play in HRO don’t mind having someone who is older and has more experience.

If you have ANY questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our current president is Christine Barron, whom you can reach via e-mail at hro@hcs.harvard.edu.