About the Orchestra
Now in its 28th season, the Mozart Society Orchestra is the only full-sized chamber orchestra at Harvard University performing a wide range of repertoire from the Baroque period through the 21st century. Led by a professional conductor and run by an all-student Executive Board, the MSO regularly performs in Paine Hall and Sanders Theater.
Founded in 1984 by Matthew Cohen ’88 and Phil Daly ’88 and named by the former Dean of Students Archie Epps whose favorite composer was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the MSO established itself under the baton of Alan Yamamoto and continued to grow with subsequent music directors Charles Peltz (1985-90), Eric Benjamin (1990-91), David Commanday '76 (1991-97), Robert Lehmann (1997-2001), Iris Lan '99 (2001-02), and Akiko Fujimoto (2002-2007), with Chris Kim serving as Resident Conductor during 2003-2004. Currently, we are directed by Edward Jones (2007-present), with David H. Miller '11 serving as assistant conductor (2008-present).
In 1991, David Commanday and MSO began to host the annual Freshman Concerto Competition in order to recognize and highlight the talent of promising young Harvard musicians. This year, the concerto competition will be opened to all Harvard undergraduates to increase the solo opportunities for all undergraduates, including those musicians who are unavailable to auditon or perform in their freshman spring. MSO also regularly accompanies the Messiah Sing-Along, an annual event in the Dunster House.
In recent years, MSO has added to its roster of collaborators not only instrumental and vocal soloists but also actors, guest conductors and composers. In November 2005, the MSO performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in a first-time collaboration with pianist Robert Levin, and in December 2006, Beethoven's Mass in C with the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus, only a second performance with a Harvard choral ensemble after the performance of Haydn’s Creation with the University Choir in 2001.
In March 2007, the Office for the Arts sponsored the MSO in an open rehearsal of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, “Italian,” led by conductor Larry Rachleff (Music Director, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Director of Orchestras, Rice University), as part of the Learning from Performers series.
Beyond all this musicality, however, what makes MSO special is a dedication to sharing music with everyone we can--whether within the orchestra, within Harvard, or beyond. This is the true spirit behind the concerto competition, the Dunster House Messiah Sing, and all our collaborations. This is also what drives us to explore chamber music with fellow MSO members, release complimentary tickets to groups of students and senior citizens, and most recently open up our membership to the entire Harvard community.
Regular rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings from 7-10pm. If you are interested in playing with the MSO or in obtaining complimentary tickets for your group, please contact MSO President Eric Chen '12 (ericchen@fas.harvard.edu).
See what the MSO has performed over the years.
Find out who has been behind the scenes running the orchestra since 1989.