The performances by the Chamber Orchestra, Elizabeth Macdonald, director, in the 2010-2011 season are:  Wednesday, September 8, 2010, in the Tisch Commons of the Danforth University Center, and Monday, January 24, 2011 at Graham Chapel.

The September featured some pieces for harp and strings, with soloist Dr. Sue Taylor, who teaches at University College and is harp instructor at WU.  The three pieces with the harp are Schoeberg's Notturno, the Adagietto from the Fifth Symphony of Mahler, and Elgar's Sospiri.  Other works on the program are Alla marcia by the late romantic Belgian composer Gilson (a U.S. premiere) and the lively Five Dances by the Greek composer Skalkottas.

The January 24, 2011 is called "Follow the Fugue" and is dedicated to fugues of various shapes and sizes, and though it is technical musical subject it promises to be highly entertaining.

Last winter's performance, January 27, 2010 was a program of string pieces by Tchaikovsky, including the Serenade for Strings.




Students who are interested in auditioning for the chamber orchestra, or other ensembles in the Music Department for the fall semester, 2010, should visit the WU Music Department   The annual open house for entering students wishing to find out about performance opportunities at WU is at the Music Department during the orientation period for new students each fall. 

There is a complete calendar of music events and information about music courses available on the department web site.


For students interested in strings at Washington University, there are several options to consider. Private lessons are offered for violin, viola, cello, viola da gamba and bass. Advanced players should consider auditioning for the ensembles at WU. The symphony orchestra, conducted by Dan Presgrave, meets weekly and gives four concerts per year. The chamber orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Macdonald, performs two concerts per year, early in each semester. The small chamber ensembles have weekly coaching and perform on and off campus, occasionally for professional engagements.

The music department was pleased to receive the following letter from a WU alum who was in attendance at the February 2,2004 concert, Mr. R. Ballard, and who was moved to write:

"Dear friends– I attended Monday's Chamber Orchestra concert in Umrath Hall and was very pleased.  The Chamber Orchestra performed skillfully and had a rich, balanced sound; the room acoustics were good (nice for an elegant room not intended for musical presentations and without acoustic padding); and I had no idea that Washington University owned a harpsichord (I am not being frivolous).

"As a student I did not participate with the Department of Music (I am a former bassoonist and piantist who was forced to concentrate on his engineering studies), but I am very happy to observe that Washington University's Department of Music has grown significantly since I was a student.  I believe that Washington University's Department of Music is a significant asset to the University that should receive greater exposure and recognition.

"I look forward to future concerts."

Here is list of repertoire performed by the Washington University Chamber Orchestra since 1994:

Alfvèn: Elegi from Suite, Gustav Adolphus, Vallflickans Dans
Arensky: Variations on a theme of Tchaikovsky
Arne:  Thomas and Sally (complete opera)
C.P.E. Bach:  Symphony no.5
J.C. Bach:  Concertato aria from La Clemenza di Scipione
J.S. Bach: Concerto for 3 harpsichords, BWV 1064; Concerto for harpsichord in D minor, BWV 1052, Concerto in c minor for oboe and violin, Brandenburg
Concertos no. 3 and 6; Coffee Cantata; Concerto in D mior for 2 violins
Barber:  Adagio for Strings
Boyce:  Double concerto in B minor
Bridge:  Irish Melody
Biber: Battalia, Nightwatchman
Conti:  La Colpe Originale
Corelli:  Concerto grossi, op.6 no. 5,6,12
Corette:  Phênix for four cellos
Delius:  Air and Dance
Elgar:  Sospiri
Fischer:  Suite no. 4
Fux:  Ouverture in D minor
Gabrielli:  Canzoni (1597)
Geminiani:  Concerto grosso
Grieg:  Norwegian melodies, Varen, Hjertesar, Holberg Suite
Grainger: Molly on the Shore
Handel:  Cantata, Silete vente, Largo from Xerxes, Queen of Sheba,Sinfonia from Jephtha,Overture to Alexander's Feast, Ouverture no.5, Concerto grosso op.6.no.6, Concerto Grosso op. 6 no. 4
Hanson:  Serenade for flute and strings
Harty:  Londonderry Air
Heinichen: Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Cello and Theorbo
Ireland:  A Downland Suite
Lutoslawksi:  Five Melodies
Massenet:  Menuet from Manon
Mendelssohn:  On wings of song
McKay: Port Royal
Mozart:  Adagio and Fugue in C minor, Divertimento K. 138
Mozart:  Piano Concerto, K. 415
Purcell:  Incidental Music to Indian Queen, Amphitryon, Abdelazer, excerpts from Dido and Aeneas, King Arthur
Rachmaninov:  Romanze, Vocalise
Rangström:  Divertimento elegiaco
Roman:  Sinfonia
Rosenmuller:  Sonate da camera
Saint-Saëns: Prelude from The Flood, op. 45
Sammartini:  Notturno
Schmelzer:  Sonata VIII
Sibelius:  Canzonetta, Raskasketun Tie
Tchaikovsky: Elegy, Snowmaiden
Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile, arr. Macdonald
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, op. 48
Tchaikovsky: Elegy
Tchaikovsky: Andante from Quartet, op. 30, arr. Glazunov
Telemann:  Don Quixote Suite
Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Tallis
Vivaldi:  Concerto for 2 violins, Concerto for 2 violins and 2 cellos, the Seasons, Concerto for string orchestra, concerto for guitar, concerto for two cellos
Warlock: Capriol Suite
Wilfert: Nocturne for 4 cellos
Wiren:  Serenade for Strings