The BRANDEIS-WELLESLEY ORCHESTRA is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and associates of Brandeis University and Wellesley College. Following successful collaborations in recent years, the orchestras at each institution formally united in the Fall of 2002 under the direction of Neal Hampton. By sharing talents and resources, the BWO provides unique creative opportunities for the communities at both institutions, and specifically for students within the context of a liberal arts education. Uniting the high standards of excellence associated with Brandeis and Wellesley, the orchestra is dedicated to bringing inspiring performances of the great orchestral literature, both past and present, to a new generation of musicians and audiences. The Orchestra gives four to five concerts a year, performing a wide range of music. Programs have included symphonies and other works by Brahms, Copland, Dvorak, Mozart, Haydn, Elgar, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. In the Spring of 2001, the orchestra performed Mahler's Second Symphony in collaboration with the orchestra of Tufts University, and the combined choirs of Brandeis, Tufts and MIT. The 2004 season featured a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The 2006 season culminated in a concert with jazz pianist Marcus Roberts. The 2007 spring concert featured a performance of Brahms German Requiem.

Rehearsals are held Thursdays at 7:30pm, alternating weekly between the two campuses (shuttle busses provided) with one hour sectional rehearsals at each campus on Tuesdays.

The Orchestra also sponsors a concerto competition held at the end of the Spring semester.

  • Applicants must be currently taking lessons in the Music Department.
  • String players must have played in orchestra for at least one year prior to applying for competition.
  • Single or multiple winners may be chosen from each school.
  • Those selected to play with the orchestra are not eligible to apply again.
Current Season

2007-2008 Concert Season

Program 1:
Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
Tchiakovsky Music from Swan Lake
Saturday November 17, 2006 at 8pm Wellesley College Jewett Auditorium (Tickets available at the door)
Sunday November 18, 2006 at 8pm Brandeis Slosberg Recital Hall Purchase Brandeis Tickets

Wellesley Family Weekend Concert:
Saturday October 13, 2006
Time TBA Tishman Commons

Brandeis Family Weekend Concert:
Saturday October 27, 2006
7pm Brandeis University Slosberg Hall

Brandeis Messiah Sing - All welcome
Thursday December 6
5pm Brandeis University Shapiro Atrium.

Program 2: Catch a Rising Star:
Sibelius Symphony No. 1 and Tchiakovsky Violin Concerto, Dan Chen; winner 2007 concerto competition, violin.
Thursday April 10, 2008 at 8:00pm Brandeis Slosberg Recital Hall Purchase Brandeis Tickets
Sunday April 13, 2008 at 7pm Wellesley College Jewett Auditorium (Tickets available at the door)

Past Seasons

Auditioning

When/how to sign up
  • Auditions for ensembles and lessons are held the first week of classes: come to the music department buiding and sign up for a time as soon as you arrive on campus.
  • If scheduled auditions are over, contact conductor Neal Hampton to inquire if it might still be possible to join the group immediately or at the start of the next semester.
What to prepare
  • In general, you should prepare two contrasting selections that demonstrates your musical and technical ability.
  • Include a first movement of a classical sonata or concerto, something in a medium to fast tempo that shows your ability to play steadily.
  • If you arrive without music, prepare a scale of your choice in as many octaves as your technique permits you to play steadily and in tune.
Past Repertory Highlights

Beethoven

Concert Aria "Ah! Perfido" (with Pamela Wolfe, soprano)
Overture to Egmont
Piano Concerto No. 3
Piano Concerto No. 4 (Aleck Karis, piano)
Piano Concerto No. 5
Triple Concerto (with the Higgenson trio: Robert Spano, Piano)
Symphonies 1,2,3,4,5,7,8 and 9

Chadwick

Sinfonietta

Copland

Selections from The Tenderland (with the University Chorus under the direction of Dr. James Olesen)

Bottesini

Concerto for Bass (Jeff Kipperman, Double bass)

Brahms

Symphony No. 1 in C Minor
Symphony No. 2 in D Major
Violin Concerto (Daniel Stepner, violin)
Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
A German Requiem

Chabrier

España

Dvorak

Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 8
Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"

Elgar

Enigma Variations
Cello Concerto

Fine, Irving

Selections from "Alice in Wonderland” (with the University Chorus)

Gershwin

Concerto in F (With Marcus Roberts Trio)

Haydn

Symphony No. 99

Khachaturian

Masquerade Suite

Violin Concerto

Lalo, Eduoard

Symphonie Espanole

Mahler

Symphony No. 1 1st Mvt (with the Tufts University Orchestra)

Symphony No. 2 "The Ressurection" (with the Tufts University and Wellesley College Orchestras)

Mendelssohn

Symphony No.3

Mozart

Symphony No. 31 "Paris"

Sinfonia Concertante

Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major

Rossini

Semiramide Ov.

Shostakovich

Symphony No. 5, Chamber Symphony

Sibelius

 Symphony No. 1

Schubert

Symphony No. 8

Schumann

Symphony No. 4

Smetana

The Moldau

Strauss

Emperor Waltzes

Stravinsky

Firebird Suite (1919)

Tchiakovsky

Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 5

Walton

Viola Concerto

Required Dress and Equipment

Attire

  • Men: Tuxedo, black bow tie, white long-sleeve shirt, black socks, black dress shoes.
  • Women: Black dress or long black skirt/pants with either black or white blouse, dress shoes.

Equipment

All participants in instrumental ensembles and lessons must own a folding metal stand and metronome.

Woodwind and brass players participating in orchestra should have an electronic tuner such as the Korg CA-30 (or a similar model that produces musical tones in addition to indicating the pitch of the note you are playing). 

The Woodwind and the Brasswind carries the CA-30 at around $20.00. You can also purchase the Matrix Universal Transducer (a clip on mike which plugs into tuners) They can be ordered online or by phone 800-348-5003.