Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra is a fun, passionate, diverse, and welcoming community of musicians dedicated to performing a variety of musical genres through unique concert experiences in the community and beyond.

The orchestra is one of the largest musical groups on campus. Led by conductor Tianhui Ng, the group reflects the diversity of the college's community, with musicians from the five colleges and the Connecticut River Valley, in addition to students, faculty and staff from Mount Holyoke College. Students who perform in the orchestra might be majors in music or biology, English or international relations, philosophy or mathematics. They are drawn by the collective desire to be an active participant in creating great beauty in the realm of sound.

Have questions about orchestra?

We attend both the academic fair and the involvement fair. Stop by to find out more about the orchestra and our plans for the coming year, auditions or any other questions you might have. If you can't meet us in person, you can also email our music director, Tianhui Ng.

Happening at Mount Holyoke

Symphony Orchestra in the news

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ng Tian Hui

Small orchestra, big sound

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ng Tian Hui, performs an all-women-composer program at its second annual Mary Lyon Concert.

Arts: Fine and Performing

A dancer in front of a video screen

Metamorphonics 2016

A multimedia extravaganza that included live electronic sound, film, dance and interactive video.

Arts: Fine and Performing

Ng Tian Hui, director of the Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra director wins programming prize.

Ng Tian Hui has won The American Prize in Orchestral Programming for his selection of repertoire for the Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and Honors

more news

Collaborative performances

The Orchestra often performs in collaborative works with other departments on campus.

View Gallery

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra performs Fearful Symmetries, 2016

A scene from Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story: Pap's Song

A scene from Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story - Marlowe Confronts Fannie

A scene from Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story - Robert Moses & Fannie Lou Hamer

The final scene from Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story - "Freedom Now"

Auditions

All students who would like to participate in the orchestra have to undergo a placement audition at the start of the academic year in the first week of Fall. For students who miss the initial audition period, or who are joining the college in the Spring semester, please contact Tianhui Ng, our director to schedule an audition appointment.

Upcoming auditions

More music events

Audition preparation

Prepare 2 to 4 minutes of music to play at the audition. Contrasting excerpts from solo or orchestral literature are recommended. For example, a fast and technically demanding excerpt accompanied with a slow and lyrical excerpt. You may also be asked to perform a 2 or 3 octave scale of your choice.

The day of your audition

Be sure to warm up before the audition. Practice rooms on the basement floor of Pratt Hall will be available during the entire audition period.
Be on time for the appointment. If you are late, you will have a shortened audition.
Each audition will last between 10-15 minutes.

After your audition

Results will be posted by the end of the weekend.
If you are accepted for membership you will be expected to attend the orchestra's first rehearsal. This will be an opportunity to meet and greet your new musical family and receive all important announcements pertaining to the course.
If you are accepted for membership you should register for Music-191: Orchestra before the add deadline (generally before the end of September).
Be sure to check the schedule of rehearsals and concert dates.

Contact us

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

The Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra is a fun, passionate, diverse, and welcoming community of musicians dedicated to performing a variety of musical genres through unique concert experiences in the community and beyond.

413-538-2306
208 Pratt Hall

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