Keshav Raghavan

This weekend, the Berkeley College Orchestra kicked off its 50th season with a symphony at Battell Chapel.

On Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the BCO opened its milestone season with a concert titled “Pastoral Power.” The program, featuring Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, reflected not only the beauty of the natural world but also the ensemble’s own growth and enduring spirit as Yale’s oldest student-run musical group.

“BCO is more than a musical group; it’s a community. We want the audience to feel connected to us the same way we feel connected to each other,” Derek Harrison ’27,  junior cellist and BCO co-president, said.

A former orchestra librarian, Harrison said the ensemble has expanded tremendously in recent years. The orchestra, now the largest it has ever been with 63 members, has seen in recent years, since COVID-19, particularly grown its string and wind sections.

For Harrison, the concert was the culmination of years of dedication. The cellist joined BCO in his first semester, and has remained a dedicated member ever since. 

“At first, I wanted an orchestral experience in college that wasn’t too intense,” he said. “It ended up becoming a huge commitment — but only because I loved it so much.”

According to Harrison, BCO is unique in its sense of community. One of his favorite traditions is the BCO Olympics, a day-long event of kickball, dodgeball and beachball soccer launched last year by former presidents after the spring concert. 

Harrison leads the orchestra alongside Taylor Burke ’27, a violinist and BCO co-president. Burke, the principal second violin for this concert cycle, also joined the group during his first semester.

“After our first concert, I stayed to help put away chairs,” he said. “Since then, I’ve fallen in love with this community.”

A chemical engineering major who has played violin since age four, Burke said BCO has allowed the perfect balance of music and academics.

“For students who love playing but have heavy workloads, it’s great to keep music in your life without it taking over your week,” he said.

Burke also values the orchestra’s inclusivity — welcoming everyone from undergraduates to faculty. The head of Berkeley College — professor David Evans — plays double bass in the orchestra, and his wife plays the violin.

According to Burke, “Pastoral Power” was designed to resonate with all listeners.

“So many people will recognize parts of these pieces from pop culture — even if they’re not classical music fans,” Burke said “It’s great for parents, grandparents and friends who come to see us.”

Leading the orchestra artistically this year is music director Evan Kessler ’28, a conductor and longtime trumpeter. Kessler oversees all rehearsals, programming and concerts. However, Kessler didn’t initially plan to get involved in conducting.

“I applied to be assistant conductor kind of on a whim last fall,” he said. “I’d never done orchestral conducting before, but after studying scores and stepping onto the podium, I fell in love. It’s such a unique and rewarding experience.”

For the orchestra’s 50th anniversary, he wanted to start the season with something special. The pieces chosen for “Pastoral Power” were heavily inspired by nature. Kessler described Rossini’s “William Tell” as a day dawning through a storm and Dvořák’s “Eighth Symphony” as brimming with pastoral melodies.

However, the theme was selected for more than its aesthetic.

“So much 19th century repertoire centers on struggle and despair,” Kessler said. “These two works stand out for their joy and optimism. They feel right for our 50th — this big, happy milestone for us as a group.”

Battell Chapel is located at 400 College St.