<p>Janerdo–</p>
<p>You’re in luck: I’m a classical pianist! </p>
<p>I was also very serious about my piano. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but I went to Interlochen Arts Camp throughout high school and backed out of attending the Arts Academy on the last day. The performance and masterclass opportunities at Williams are superb (although Yale probably offers more in the way of masterclasses). There are numerous department-sponsored student recitals, studio recitals, etc, etc. However the neatest thing I’ve done so far was a concert I played in the Clark Art Museum (a 10 minute walk from campus, it’s an amazing museum which holds one of the best impressionist collections in the country). I played on an antique museum piano in the impressionist room surrounded by Degas, Monets, Renoirs, etc. It was a great experience and I hope to have a chance to do it again. There seem to be something like 1-2 significant masterclass opportunities each semester for pianists and open to basically anyone who’s respectable and interested. I participated in one given by a winner of a major piano competition (I don’t remember which one) who was the teacher of two Leeds silver Medalists, and a Tchaickovsky winner.</p>
<p>Williams has one piano artist in residence (Doris Stevenson, <a href=“http://www.williams.edu/music/faculty/dstevenson.html[/url]”>http://www.williams.edu/music/faculty/dstevenson.html</a>) and several other teachers who teach through the college. You actually can get 1/2 a course credit for music lessons which is nice but ultimately not super meaningful. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in ensemble or chamber music opportunities, both are great here as well. I was the orchestra pianist with the Berkshire Symphony on their most recent concert, playing on 2/4 of their songs. Last year I was the Symphwinds pianist for two concerts. It seems like most of the more serious pianists have played in a major ensemble at least once. I haven’t played in any smaller chamber groups yet, but I’ve done a significant amount of accompanying (for which the department pays you $8.25 a practice hour). There is a phenomenal Jazz band which I’m not involved in and an annual Berkshire Symphony concerto competition (which gives the student winners the unique opportunity to perform with a semi-professional orchestra). </p>
<p>Outside of the numerous formalized musical groups and opportunities, a motivated student will find nearly limitless potential for anything they want to do. I am currently putting together a small orchestra to perform Carnival of the Animals with this spring.</p>