One thing that many orchestra members remember with great pleasure was playing in the new auditorium at Johns Hopkins. There was enough room on the stage for the orchestra (both Paine and Sanders are extremely cramped and uncomfortable to play in). The hall was soundproofed so that there were no distractions from outside (sometimes when playing in Sanders it is difficult to compete with the Cambridge fire-station). The acoustics were beautiful. By the end of a rehearsal in Paine most people's cars are blown out. The hall is too small and live for such a large or chestra as HRO. And playing in Sanders is like playing in a barn. Harvard, with its lovely visual studies building. Fogg Museum, and Loeb Drama Center does not have adequate concert facilities. And Harvard might note that Johns Hopkins with its beautiful new hall is not turning into a conservatory.

A perennial problem with the orchestra is lack of money. The University does not support the orchestra. In fact, in order to play in Sanders Theatre the orchestra must pay the University for policemen, light, and heat. HRO has to pay for posters, tickets, rental of instruments, and publicity. The orchestra cannot afford to have its own percussion instruments and therefore must rent from Jack's Drum Shop or borrow from the band. For every rehearsal the percussionist runs back and forth from Sanders carrying timpani, xylophones and miscellaneous other equipment. At best, the orchestra breaks even financially after a concert.

Although the main purpose of the orchestra will continue to be the playing, performing, and enjoying of serious music, Dr. Yannatos is interested in broadening the scope of the orchestra beyond the Harvard community to include the Cambridge community. Perhaps this new direction will involve a series of concerts in the area or perhaps benefit concerts for various local organizations.

Another new development for the HRO is the music department's revolutionary decision to grant academic credit to the orchestra. Next year HRO will be listed in the catalogue as a half course extending throughout the year. The course can be taken for credit only for two years. And naturally it will accept an unlimited number of auditors. In one way this will recognize the five hours per week that members give to the orchestra and will attract more people. In another way this is recognizing the value of practical musical experience and the fact that music was written to be performed and not just studied.

The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and the Harvard Glee Club will be coming together March 20 to perform a typically difficult and varied program: Josquin, Poulance, Handl, Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex," and the Brahms "Alto Rhapsody." The soloist for the "Rhapsody" is Mildred Miller from the Metropotitan Opera.