Russell T. Hangers will make his debut as conductor of the combined Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra and Clubs Clans at 8:30 p.m. tonight in Sander Theatre. His teacher, Richard Burgin, associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, came specially before leaving on a tour to hear his protege at Monday's press rehearsal. "Excellent," he exclaimed to Stanger in the middle of Shostakovitch's "Fifth Symphony."

Burgin introduced the Fifth to Boston fifteen years ago and known its technical difficulties. The work contains long include laps as well as intricate physic patterns. But his pupil has game on to add Haydn's "Symphony No. 88 in G-Major" and Bach's "Magnificent," for tonight's concert.

Harold L. Rogers, music critics for the "Christian Science Monitor," commented, "It's an ambitions program for a student group to undertake."

Stanger planned the program, with the help of Burgin, to include contrasting musical periods the Baroque, the Classical, and the contemporary. His greatest interest, however, seems to lie in modern music, and as his mentor points out, he is most at home with the "Fifth."

Orchestra Largest Yet

The orchestra this year, 80 strong, is the largest in its history. Its new conductor believes that the membership has enough quality to match its record quality.

The Violin section is usually the weak-spot in student orchestra, but this year's numbers 26. Concertmaster Deno J. Geanakoplos 5G has played in the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under Demit Metropolis and performed Brahms' Concerto" with the Naples Symphony Orchestra.

Other outstanding violinists include Sander S. Shaper '54, former concert master of the Midwood High School Orchestra, Leonard M. Marcus, '51, concert, master of the University of Wisconsin Orchestra before he transferred, and Marguerite Welsh, Wife of a graduate student and former concertmasters of the Vassar Symphony Orchestra.

After the dress rehearsal, Burgin singled out the bassoon section for special praise. Theodore J. Schultz 4G is first bassoonist and John F. Tinker, instructor in Chemistry, is second.

Principal Flutist

Howard M. Brown '51, former president of the Music Club, will be principal flutist. He succeeds John May '51, who was called two weeks ago by Pierre Montoux as first flutist in the than Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

First choosy, Paul C. deVergie '51 has an impressive family background; his father is obooist with the Boston Symphony. Violist Richard S. Garden 3G is another son of an outstanding musician. Jacques Gordon founded the Gordon String Quartet of Music Mountain, Conn.

Radeliffe has contributed 15 to the orchestra, including first cellist Joan Breezy '52 and pianist Judith Yaeger '52.

Conductor Stanger shows great enthusiasm with the way in which director G. Wallace Woodworth '24 has prepared the 100-voice Harvard Radcliffe Glee Club for Reach's Magnificent." Blistering the Glee Clubs as solo sits are contralto since Albert, who has sung under Serge Koussevitsky, to nor Hugh Cuenod, soprano Eleanor Davis, and bass Paul Tibbetts.

BSO Harpsichordist

Daniel Pinkham, harpsichordist for the Boston Symphony, and Gerald Goguen, clarion trumpeter, will handle the special instrumentation called for by Bach.

In his first appearance tonight as head of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, the 26 year-old Stanger follows a long line of successful conductors. Malcom H. Holmes 128 retired last season to take on new duties as dean of the New England Conservatory of Music. He led the organization since 1931. Woodworth and Walter Piston conducted before him.

Stanger is well trained to take over the Job. He has studied with Eleanor to Carafe the and has been assistant conductor to Leonard Bernstein for two years at Tangle wood. Last year, Stanger assisted Burgin in conducting the New England Symphony Orchestra.