Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra
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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 Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra (MHSO) is the College’s principal orchestral ensemble and one of the largest performing groups on campus. Founded in 1999 by students Lisa Utzinger ’02 and Sara Curtin ’02, the orchestra quickly grew from a grassroots initiative into a credited Music Department ensemble. Early leadership came from conductors George Matthew, David Gibson, Mark Bartley, and Eric Benjamin, laying the foundation for a tradition of ambitious programming and collaboration.

Since 2011, MHSO has been directed by conductor Tianhui Ng, whose visionary leadership has transformed the ensemble into a hub for bold, socially engaged performance. Under his baton, the orchestra has embraced both the classical canon and adventurous contemporary projects, including operas by Mary D. Watkins (Dark River), Nkeiru Okoye (Invitation to a Die-In), and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Loksi’ Shaali’). The ensemble often integrates multimedia, dance, and visual art into its performances, and in 2015 was awarded the American Prize in Orchestral Programming for collegiate ensembles.

Open to students from across the Five College Consortium as well as community members from the Pioneer Valley, the orchestra unites musicians from diverse academic backgrounds and walks of life. Its collaborators have included the Boston University Choral Society, Euridice Quartet, NEC Children’s Chorus, Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Mount Holyoke’s own choral, dance, and jazz ensembles. Guest artists have ranged from internationally acclaimed soloists such as Sara Davis Buechner, Dashon Burton, and Astrid Schween to distinguished College faculty performers.

Today, the Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra is recognized as a vibrant and inclusive musical community, dedicated to bridging tradition and innovation. Its performances embody Mount Holyoke’s commitment to excellence, creativity, and the transformative power of the arts in both local and global contexts.

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.