Ensembles

Harvard Unversity Band playing on Science Center Plaza Tower in distanceOrchestras and Choruses

Professionally-Led Orchestras

Baroque Chamber Orchestra
A chamber orchestra that uses baroque instruments and bows from Harvard's collection to recapture the vibrant and improvisatory performance styles of that era. Phoebe Carrai, Director. Auditions September 3. Those interested in audition sign up can email here.  

Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra
The HRO is the oldest university symphonic orchestra in America, now celebrating its 216th season. The orchestra presents four major performances annually in Sanders Theatre, with repertoire spanning from the 18th century to new commissions. The orchestra also tours internationally to countries such as Argentina, Korea, Mexico, Canada, and Italy. This year, the Orchestra will be touring South Korea in March 2024. Federico Cortese, Music Director. Fall 23 Audition Information.

Harvard Jazz Orchestra
Founded in 1971, the Jazz Orchestra plays repertoire that spans all the major eras and traditions of jazz, from big band to be-bop to Afro-Cuban Jazz. The Orchestra performs regularly with jazz luminaries through the OFA Jazz Program. Yosvany Terry, Director of Jazz Ensembles. 

Harvard University Band 
The Harvard University Band performs at all home and away football games. Throughout the year, it can also be seen in action at men's and women's hockey and basketball games, other Harvard sports, and at various university, community and charity events. Mark Olson, Director, Harvard University Bands and Wind Ensemble. 

Harvard Wind Ensemble
A select group of fifty musicians, founded in the 1960s, to offer talented Harvard musicians the opportunity to study and perform original literature for winds and percussion. Mark Olson, Conductor. 

Harvard Pops Orchestra 
The Harvard Pops Orchestra presents two creatively-themed concerts a year. Through an eclectic range of music, including classical, film, and pop; theatrical and visual elements; and lots of laughs, we strive to create performances that are unique, enriching, and enjoyable. Allen Feinstein '86, Conductor. Audition information .

Student-Led Orchestras

Bach Society Orchestra 
Harvard's premier student-led chamber orchestra. Alumni include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, composers John Adams and John Harbison, conductors Alan Gilbert, Isaiah Jackson, Christopher Wilkins, Hugh Wolff, and Samuel Wong, and members of top American symphony orchestras. Visit here for audition information taking place on Saturday and Sunday, September 2 & 3. 

River Charles Ensemble 
The RCE orchestra is a music program for student musicians to develop as young artists, creative thinkers, and unique personalities. Without the presence of a conductor, each musician becomes a peer mentor, and the intensive work ethic has helped to raise the caliber of the orchestra with every performance. An ensemble with musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds, RCE is a resident orchestra of Paine Hall in the Harvard Music Department. The RCE is modeled after the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra of New York and aims to perform at a high level by developing leadership and collaboration techniques amongst all musicians in the ensemble. RCE is a proud partnering organization of the Harvard College Piano Society.
 

Mozart Society Orchestra
The MSO is a student-run orchestra that prides itself on its tight-knit musical community, fostering a relaxed and friendly environment while still remaining committed to musical excellence. MSO combines the intimate music-making atmosphere of a chamber ensemble and the full sound of a symphony orchestra. Our repertoire spans time periods, identities and genres, ranging from baroque concertos to 20th century compositions. 

Professionally-Led Choruses

Harvard Choruses
The parent organization of the Harvard Glee Club, Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, Radcliffe Choral Society, and Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus. The Harvard Choruses aspires to empower singers, student leaders, and communities by sustaining and advancing choral music education and practice. Together we value continuous and ongoing growth for our singers and the choruses at large: as students, through leadership and creativity; as musicians, through dedication to art-making; and as citizens, through community engagement. The Harvard Choruses sponsors voice lessons for all interested members. Preliminary auditions for the Choruses are Tuesday, August 30–Friday, September 2. For more information visit: www.singatharvard.com/audition

Harvard Glee Club (tenor and bass Chorus (TTBB) chorus)
The nation's oldest collegiate chorus, showcasing music written in the male chorus tradition, the Harvard Glee Club performs throughout the year, collaborating with arts groups on campus and across the world, through national and international tours. HGC also features its own student-conducted a cappella group, Glee Club Lite. Through excellence in performance, student-management, education, community, tradition and philanthropy, the Glee Club offers a unique musical experience for all members.

Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus (mixed symphonic chorus)
Founded in 1979, the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus is made up of 120 undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff and community members. The ensemble presents two major choral-orchestral performances per year, exploring a wide range of repertoire spanning the baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century and present-day music. Members of HRC represent a variety of music backgrounds and experience levels.

Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum (mixed (SATB) chorus)
A nationally acclaimed collegiate mixed choir, Collegium has performed at prestigious venues in the United States and around the world. The ensemble performs a dynamic and innovative repertoire spanning classical large-scale works to new compositions by renowned, emerging and student composers. Collegium is proud to foster a tradition of excellence through community as reflected in its music-making, student leadership, community engagement, alumni engagement and lifelong bonds between members. Collegium also features The Chamber Singers, a student-led subset that performs a wide variety of new music, world music and canonic works.

Kuumba Singers of Harvard College 
Founded in 1971, Kuumba is the oldest black undergraduate organization on Harvard's campus. Kuumba is a non-audition choir and artistic space dedicated to singing music from the African Diaspora (spirituals, gospel, R&B, jazz, etc.), and celebrating Black creativity and spirituality through various mediums of creative expression: song, dance, poetry, theater and visual art. Sheldon K. X. Reid ‘97, Director. 

Radcliffe Choral Society ( soprano and alto (SSAA) chorus)
Founded in 1899, the RCS is one of the country's premier soprano-alto choruses. The ensemble performs a distinctive repertoire spanning nine centuries of choral literature: sacred and secular, a cappella and accompanied, collaborative and choral-orchestral. RCS aims to foster the appreciation and enjoyment of treble and women's choral music through the commission of new works for treble voices, high-caliber performances, and domestic and international travel, striving to honor its history and further its legacy. As a student run and managed 501(c)(3) non-profit, singers are given a unique opportunity to join the Executive Committee, learning about and developing their skills in arts management. RCS also features its own student-led a cappella subset, 'Cliffe Notes.

University Choir 
A mixed voice choir affiliated with Memorial Church. The choir performs sacred works at Sunday morning services and in periodic concerts throughout the year. Edward Jones, Conductor. 

Skills for Singing Course
Fall 23 Classes (2 separate sections, 10 weeks); Spring 2024: Dates TBD 
Time/Location: Mondays from 7pm-9pm (first class, September 25) or Thursdays from 7pm-9pm (first class, September 21) in Music Building Classroom 6 (3 Oxford Street)

Introducing "Skills for Singing". A Co-Curricular Voice Training Journey

Embark on a captivating musical journey with "Skills for Singing," an engaging co-curricular endeavor that offers a non-credit, cost free course designed to elevate your vocal prowess. This weekly group-based program delves deep into the art of singing, placing a strong emphasis on comprehending the mechanics of the human voice and applying the knowledge seamlessly within a dynamic repertoire.  

Throughout each session, participants will also dedicate valuable time to the exploration of Western musical notation, honing the ability to read and interpret musical scores fluently. Regardless of your prior experience, every individual is wholeheartedly welcomed, as the course tailors its approach to accomodate learners at all stages. Prepare to unearth the hidden gems within your vocal range, delve into the intricacies of your personal musicianship, and cultivate your unique artistic style.  

Whether you're taking your first steps into the world of singing or aspiring to audition for esteemed groups like the Harvard Choruses, operas, musicals or a cappella ensembles, "Singing Skills" warmly encourages your participation. The program also extends a warm invitation to new members of Harvard's musical ensembles, eager to refine and expand their vocal abilities. 

Enrollment is intentionally limited to a cozy group of 20 vocalists, and the popularity of the course often results in a substantial waitlist. While preference is given to Harvard College undergradates, we eargerly welcome Harvard graduate students and members of the faculty, staff, and affiliated community for thoughtful consideration, enriching the overall class experience. 

In our commitments to maintaining a safe and health-conscious environment, all participants will adhere to the latest COVID-19 protocols established by Harvard univeristy. your well-being remains top priority as we embark on this enriching vocal journey together.

Visit this link for last year's Harvard Magazine article on Skills for Singing.

Instructor: Christopher Sierra

Registration:
The Skills for Singing course registration for Fall 2023 is now closed.  Those who have filled it out will be notified of their class status (accepted/waitlisted) the week of September 11th, at which point they will have the chance to confirm, defer, or pass their acceptance. 

If you would like to be kept on the list for future Registration updates, including Spring 2024, please fill out this Skills for Singing Interest Form.   

The Registration Form will close on Sunday night, September 10th, at 11:59pm. You will be notified of your class status (accepted/waitlist) the week of September 11, at which point you will have the chance to confirm, defer, or pass on your acceptance. 

If you are not available for Fall 2023 but would like to be kept on the list for future Registration udpates, including Spring 2024, please check back after the Registration Period closes for a link to the Skills for Singing Interest Form.