Harvard Music

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I am a serious cellist and am trying to decide between Harvard and Princeton. I know Princeton has outstanding music opportunities; however, clearly Harvard's proximity to Boston would provide unlimited access to teachers and venues as well.
I was wondering if anyone is a serious musician and would be able to tell me about the music programs at Harvard, facilities, orchestras and other ensembles, and how they may compare with those of Princeton? Also, should I decide to go to Harvard I might be interested in auditioning for NEC and doing the double degree program- does anyone know of people who do this, and how they feel about it?</p>

<p>Any information at all would be SO helpful. Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>I can't tell you what Princeton offers but Harvard's Music department has been excellent historically. </p>

<p>Dept. website: <a href="http://www.music.fas.harvard.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.music.fas.harvard.edu/&lt;/a>
There is a big orchestra: <a href="http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/%7Ehro/about.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hro/about.htm&lt;/a>
And the chamber orchestra: <a href="http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/%7Ebachsoc/about.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~bachsoc/about.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

3

<p>This is not from personal experience, but I know some graduate students in the program, and this is what I have gleaned: The music department is excellent, one of the best in country, but it is strictly an academic department. Their information makes it clear that they regard music performance as extracurricular. The NEC program is small, difficult to get into (you must be admitted by audition to NEC), and costs an extra $6,000; it is a 5 year program. There are lots of extracurricular music opportunities.</p>

4

<p>OK...I would reply but I have a midterm tomorrow. If you can wait a few days, I post something here. </p>

<p>P.S. I'm a music concentrator at H.</p>

5

<p>thanks everyone! dont worry i can wait :)</p>

6

<p>I have the same questions -- but for piano.</p>

7

<p>Here's a Crimson article about a current Harvard student, a cellist, who is in the 5-year NEC program:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=514734%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=514734&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cellist-alums of Harvard include Yo-Yo Ma and Matt Haimovitz.</p>

8

<p>Bong Ihn is a fantastic cellist and person, might I add.</p>

<p>P.S. Longer post to come in a few days...</p>

9

<p>And here's an article about a Harvard violinist about to graduate. We went to hear him, and he is indeed fabulous. Someone told me he's a psychology major.</p>

<p>Stefan Jackiw: Talent That's Off the Scale</p>

<p>Saturday, April 16, 2005; Page C05
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57830-2005Apr15.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57830-2005Apr15.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>