THE AMHERST COLLEGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA consists of about 70 students currently matriculating at Amherst College, as well as up to 10 additional students from the other Five Colleges: the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith and Hampshire. It is one of the only liberal arts college orchestras comprised entirely of students and presents three programs per semester with repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the 21st century.

ORCHESTRA TRADITIONS include:

performing full-length concerts during Homecoming and Family weekends in fall semester;

serving as the orchestra for fully staged operas in conjunction with Professor Jenny Kallick’s “Creating Musical Drama” course (Cosi fan tutte [1999], La finta Giardiniera [2000], Carmen [2003], Le Nozze di Figaro [2006]);

collaborating with the Amherst Choral Society (Mallorie Chernin, Music Director) in major works which feature symphonic chorus, such as Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, and the Mahler Second Symphony ("Resurrection");

performing as the pit orchestra in musical comedies such as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2003), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2004), La Cage aux Folles (2005), Leonard Bernstein's Candide (2006), and City of Angels (2007);

presenting pops concerts of movie music and holiday favorites, with guest instrumental and vocal soloists;

accompanying renowned professional soloists (such as The Peabody Trio, in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto);

biennial tours (e.g., Los Angeles in 2003 and Fort Lauderdale in 2005), as well as run-out concerts for alumni to Boston and New York City.

 

PERFORMANCES by the Amherst College Symphony Orchestra take place in Buckley Hall in the Arms Music Center on the Amherst College campus.

REHEARSALS generally are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:15-9:30 p.m. in either Buckley Hall or the Instrumental Ensemble Rehearsal Room 7 of Arms Music Center, although additional rehearsal times may be scheduled as needed.

Members of the orchestra do not have to be music majors in order to participate. However, all potential members are required to present a simple audition for the Music Director. Please refer to the auditions page for further information.

IF YOU ARE AN APPLICANT TO AMHERST COLLEGE and interested in majoring in music or merely pursuing music as an extracurricular activity, be sure to SUBMIT A RECORDING OF YOUR PLAYING WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL ARTS APPLICATION; or BETTER YET, VISIT THE COLLEGE and play for Mr. Swanson in person. This allows your musical talent and achievement to be adequately assessed by the Music Director and factored into the admissions decision.

Please contact our Music Director Mark Lane Swanson at any time at mlswanson@amherst.edu or at 413-542-8205 with any questions you may have about the orchestra. We look forward to meeting you and to making great music together!