The Wellesley College Philharmonic was typical for a Wellesley student organization in that it was run entirely by students. For a while its conductor was even a student. I experienced a remarkable sense of liberation and empowerment during my first few months at Wellesley when I realized the student body was in charge of all the organizations, from the newspaper to the film society to the radio station,. We were adults, responsible and creative, able to contribute to our community. Gone, even, were the faculty advisors. I had been in student groups in high school where the students made most of the decisions, but the faculty advisor was always there to keep things in check. At Wellesley, the administration had no control over the content of the Wellesley News, or what was broadcast over WZLY. If a faculty member was there at all, it was for their specific expertise, their choral direction or religious leadership. But we were making the decisions. That didn't mean everyone always agreed, of course. Alternative student newspapers, often with a conservative bent, sprang up. Included among the women who filled up eight buses to attend the women's march on Washington were pro-lifers as well as the more apparent pro-choice advocates. But we all shared the spirit of student activism. The college community, the reason for its very being, after all, was the students. Many of us took advantage of this opportunity to lead and make a difference.

The Philharmonic, which was known more mundanely in previous years as the Wellesley College Chamber Orchestra, met once a week. It was chamber orchestra sized, so the repertoire couldn't approach that of a symphony orchestra, but we conquered a wide range of compositions. The student conductor position was voted upon each year, with varying talents taking the podium. A faculty conductor was hired for my senior year to provide more stable and experienced musical leadership, but the student conductor position remained for those who wanted to seize the baton.

Publicity was always a problem with our orchestra. Classical music concerts took a back seat to more au courant activities for most students, so we had to be creative with our advertising. I think this T-shirt said it the best. We were spirited, we were rocking. You don't need to have an electric guitar to bring the house down.
 

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