<p>My daughter has been admitted this Fall and is trying to decide between several schools (Carleton, Grinnell, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, etc.). The orchestra program will be one factor (she plays viola).
Does anyone have a perspective on Smith's program? Looking at pictures on their web site it seems a tad small.</p>
<p>So, this is what I can tell you - my d. has just been elected Secretary of the Orchestra. The newish orchestra director - Jonathan Hirsch - has been given tenure, the students love him, and so over the past 5 years the orchestra program has been growing steadily. They are doing Beethoven's 9th at Carnegie Hall on May 11th - the Smith orchestra's 100th anniversary. Tonight, they are having the dress rehearsal for the Verdi Requiem at Smith, with the male chorus from the U.S. Naval Academy. Last year they took a trip to the Carribean. </p>
<p>Violas are ALWAYS very welcome (and they have fine string teachers). Weakest has been the horns, as would be expected at a women's college, though d. says more have come out of the woodwork recently. Can't comment on Carleton, Grinnell, or Bryn Mawr (except to say that the overall music faculty at Smith, with 18 full-time members, is well larger than the others.) The orchestra is significantly larger than Mt. Holyoke (or Amherst). Next year, the 5-College Opera Consortium will be mounting its first productions, with a 5-College Orchestra (my d. is the Research Assistant attached.)</p>
<p>In addition (breath), the 5-College Early Music Program is headed by Robert Eisenstein, founder of the Folger Consort. His office is at Mt. Holyoke, but most of his work is at Smith and U.Mass. My d. plays Baroque chamber music (she's a violinist)in a 5-college group which meets at Smith every Friday (and sings in an early music choir that last term met at Mt. Holyoke, and this term at Smith.) Eisenstein also teaches viola de gamba.</p>
<p>In addition (more), Northampton has a community opera company, which recruits an orchestra for all of their productions (and an annual Messiah.) If you write me privately, I'll send you my d.'s e-mail and phone, and your d. can call her up and ask (or meet her at open campus days.)</p>
<p>Thank you very much! Very helpful.</p>
<p>Well, I just found out that the Verdi Requiem performance (with men's choir from the Naval Academy) was a stunner. I also found something else out - the orchestra was a professional orchestra, made up partially of Smith students and partially of professionals from the surrounding 5-college community. So my d. got a $125 surprise check, which pleased her greatly. ;)</p>
<p>$125, really? my D played in the Requiem too, but didn't mention the pay. I'll ask her next time for my cut. LDad, if you want more info about the orchestra and music performance program, you can also contact jonathan hirsh. he was most helpful to us last year. D thought she had a lock on an oboe seat in the orchestra, then discovered 5 others showed up to audition as well, so you just can't be sure the next entering class won't abound with viola players. D has been very pleased with smith's music facilities. she has practiced on some fine pianos, especially when various concert grands were test-loaned to smith so the music department could decide which one to buy. she has encountered impressive musicians in the practice rooms... on several occasions, these were guest artists practicing for upcoming concerts at smith.</p>
<p>"Weakest has been the horns"...I'll ask my D about that.</p>
<p>LuckyD, Jonathan Hirsh is amazing. Whereas the orchestra director at Columbia wouldn't talk to my D until she was admitted to Columbia and came to the audition, Jonathan not only set up a time to meet with D on the day we were first visiting but then invited her to come back in the evening and sit with her section during rehearsal.</p>
<p>Numbers - not quality.</p>
<p>Ah. </p>
<p>I do know they had been thin on numbers, having only three at one point. Two of the horns live in adjacent rooms...what are the odds?</p>
<p>===</p>
<p>Btw, LuckyD, my anecdote about Jonathan is a key part of our conversion process about LAC's in general and Smith in particular. I mean, we all still had a buzz on about Smith when we were visiting Yale the next day. What has been so startling about Smith, in our experience (both D and parents) is that Jonathan's attitude is the rule, not the exception: what can we do to make this work for you?</p>
<p>I really appreciate all the input. My D plans to visit next week for the admitted student event and I'll make sure she connects with Hirsh.</p>
<p>LD, Jonathan is a great guy but very peripatetic and quite possibly over-booked into the bargain. Which is to say, your D might want to e-mail him and establish a time/place in advance.</p>
<p>LD, you may know already, the orchestra rehearses tuesday nights at sweeney hall (adjacent to music bldg). if you're there, d will surely be welcome to sit in among the violas... turn around and say hi to the oboes. jonathan is also a good cards player. he teaches a january term class on playing bridge that our d enjoyed. have a great visit.</p>
<p>
My Glee Club D raved about it as well. She said we really have something to look forward to in the repeat performance at Annapolis, which we will be attending later this month.</p>
<p>I have to join in on this Jon Hirsch fan club! I went to the Requiem last week and it was AMAZING! I was sitting in the third row and I could see Jon conducting this entire orchestra/choral group... my grandparents and I could tell that he just really loved his job and working with people. He truly put his heart and soul into his music. I'd like to see more of his performances :)</p>