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HRO Members: Season 216
Violin
Cal Alexander
Bio:
Aaron Berger
Bio: Aaron is a violinist and sophomore in Cabot House studying Computer Science. When he isn’t playing Ultimate Frisbee, he’s “boolin’” or eating Hamantaschen, even when it isn’t Purim.
Avinashi Bhandari
Bio: Avinashi is a freshman violinist in Hollis with an intended concentration in Physics and Chemistry. Her favorite late night activities include lying on the floor and haunting the physics library. She is a big Shostakovich fan and enjoys drinking tea.
Ethan Chaves
Bio: Ethan is a first-year violinist planning to concentrate in Philosophy. in Philosophy. He is a also dual-degree student majoring in composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. At HRO, Ethan serves as both a stage manager and advertisements manager on the general board. In addition to HRO, he is a video executive at The Harvard Crimson and a member of Harvard Alternative Investments.
Kevin Cho
Bio: Kevin is a freshman violinist living in Hollis. Aside from HRO, he is on Datamatch’s Algorithm Team, and is a member of Harvard’s Table Tennis Club and Canada Club. If he isn’t chowing down on strawberry cheesecake ice cream, reading, or listening to Tchaikovsky, then he is most likely playing with his dog, Toto.
Noemi Gilbert
Bio:
Matthew Ho
Bio: Matthew is a sophomore violinist native to Lowell House. He is concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a secondary in economics. He would explain why he’s chosen this concentration, but saying the name again would push him past the word count. Besides ironically playing Sul G in rehearsal and checking the HRO insta, Matthew enjoys doing biology research at MGH (making his cell lines light up like a rave party), collecting plastic silverware (just in case, ya know?), and microwaving rice till just before it explodes.
Sophiette Hong
Bio:
Lizzy Huang
Bio:
Henry Jackson
Bio:
Ella Kim
Bio:
Cherin Lee
Bio:
Christine Lee
Bio: Christine is a junior violinist in Quincy House studying Chemistry and Computer Science (and maybe a secondary in music if she can stop procrastinating and actually figure out if she can graduate). Outside of HRO, she is involved in Harvard MEDLIFE, PBHA's Alzheimer's Buddies, WiCS, and actively trying not to burn down the Chemistry department with slightly questionable substances. If something happens, it wasn't her. Promise. Guaranteed 100% of 13% of the time.
Angela Li
Bio: Angela is a junior violinist in Mather studying Statistics and Computer Science. Aside from HRO, she is also involved in AACF and PBHA’s Chinatown ESL. In her free time, she loves adventuring and anything nature-related, especially watching sunsets.
Enoch Li
Bio: Enoch is a violinist and freshman in Grays who loves all things music. When he isn’t sight reading chamber music with friends or obsessing over orchestral scores, you may find him chilling out with friends late at night, sipping a salty lime 7-up, or aggressively cringing at insects and any and all romance scenes on TV. Enoch sometimes snacks on spoonfuls of ketchup and/or chicken bouillon powder (when he’s feeling spicy).
Kevin Miura
Bio: Kevin is a sophomore violinist hailing from Pfoho (#quadlife). He is concentrating in chemistry with a possible secondary in statistics if he survives the first 2 weeks of stat 111 (wish him luck). Kevin’s harshest critic is his cockatiel, who will only chirp if he plays in tune. When he is not playing violin for HRO or his bird, Kevin enjoys making drip coffee in his room, riding to every possible stop on the T, and explaining why every piece of stationery he owns is absolutely necessary for his academic success. Kevin would appreciate any advice for fixing his sleep schedule.
Ashini Modi
Bio: Ashini is a violinist and freshman in Grays with an intended concentration in Astrophysics. Aside from HRO, she is involved in the Harvard Science Review, the Food Literacy Project, the Green Medicine Initiative, Deepam, and Ghungroo. She can often be found eating apples and peanut butter while watching criminal minds, snacking on dried mango and sour patch kids, sipping sweet tea, or making an iced mocha at Berg.
Ozioma Obi
Bio:
Ebun Oguntola
Bio:
Olivia Oh
Bio:
Hannah Park
Bio: Hannah is a freshman violinist living in Weld with an intended concentration in Chemical and Physical Biology. Outside of HRO, she is co-treasurer of the Harvard Pre-Medical Society and also volunteers to help critically ill children and their families when not in class. Since coming to college, she has learned that anything, and she means anything, can fit in an Annenberg paper cup to be eaten on the go. Hannah also may or may not have a generously-sized collection of Annenberg cereal in her dorm. Not to get too specific, of course.
Skye Park
Bio: Skye is a junior violinist in Mather studying Government (red flag) with a secondary in Music. She is addicted to sleep, coffee, chonky shoes, and complaining about the food in Boston.
Serin Park
Bio: Serin, a freshman from New York, now making a (thankfully) temporary stay at the Wigglet, plays the violin. When she is not at rehearsal with her chamber group, HRO, or Brattle, she is either napping in Lamont, figuring out WHRB's studio layout, or grabbing Flyby's last chicken wrap.
Catherine Previn
Bio:
Matthew Sakiyama
Bio: Matthew is a sophomore violinist living in Lowell House and concentrating in Computer Science. In addition to HRO, he is also a member of HKA and WHRB, and the Associate Arts Editor for Harvard Independent. He enjoys going on walks, sleeping, and listening to Phillip Glass.
Paloma So
Bio:
Michelle Stern
Bio: Michelle is a violinist and sophomore in Mather House concentrating in Mathematics and Government with a minor in Music. She is HRO’s Publicity Chair, and is additionally a member of the Brattle Street Chamber Players and HFAC. When she isn’t running around campus carrying a million things (most notably random unnecessary bags and her violin), she can be found writing poetry/journaling, attempting to cook, hating on seltzer, or having deep philosophical conversations with friends in lieu of sleeping.
Iris Sung
Bio:
Moshi Tang
Bio:
Catie Thai
Bio: Catie is a sophomore in Quincy House who plays violin. She is concentrating in chemistry because she likes drawing hexagons and shooting lasers at the crystals she makes for her research. When she is not running around Sanders taking photos of HRO, she can be found bringing her tiger plushie everywhere she goes, drawing cats on every white/chalk board she sees, and taking detours by the GSD and Prescotts in the hopes of finding Remy the Harvard cat (please let her know if you see him).
Dacha Thurber
Bio: Dacha is a sophomore violinist in Quincy studying Music and Computer Science. Aside from HRO, he is an active member of the Harvard College Opera. He is a chocolate taster for Lindt & Sprüngli and has never won an Olympic gold medal or Nobel Peace Prize.
Sava Thurber
Bio:
Lea Wang
Bio: Lea is a first-year violinist from Holland, PA living in the hallowed cinder block of Canaday. When she's not sitting criss cross applesauce in a library carrel, you can find her mysteriously moseying the banks of the Charles, devising new cranberry cocktail creations in Annenberg to contain the spread of her suitemate's cranberry coketail gospel, or spending time with her stuffed twin dinosaurs (@olivernbabish on Instagram).
Alex Yin
Bio: Alex Yin is a first year living in Pennypacker, originally from Lexington, MA. He spent too much time editing this website that he didn't have time to write a bio.
Claire Yoo
Bio:
Stephanie Yoshida
Bio: Stephanie is a sophomore violinist from Honolulu, Hawaii now living in Quincy House concentrating in astrophysics and she serves as HRO’s Vice President. Outside of HRO, Stephanie is involved in WHRB, Harvard Sports Analytics Collective, and AstroSoc. In her free time, she enjoys watching baseball, going shopping, and watching movies with friends.
Sheerea Yu
Bio:
Grace Zhou
Bio:
Viola
Katherine Avery
Bio:
Josh Cai
Bio:
Victor Cai
Bio: Victor is a freshman violist in Thayer studying electrical engineering. A lover of Gustaf Holst’s music, Victor is notorious for taking far too many pset courses in his freshman fall. Late at night, he drowns his troubles with a tall glass of 55.3M Oxidane.
Esther Clayton
Bio:
Isabel Dean
Bio:
Peirce Ellis
Bio:
Benjamin Fortuin
Bio:
Mercer Greenwald
Bio:
Joshua Halberstadt
Bio: Joshua is a sophomore violist in Kirkland House studying Mechanical Engineering. An aficionado of all things mechanical, he also participates in the Harvard Satellite Team and Harvard Organ Society (as he can tell you, organs can be viewed as a complex piece of machinery in addition to a musical instrument). In all of his free time, he runs (ultramarathons).
Sabrina Hu
Bio: Sabrina is a violist and freshman in Weld with an intended concentration in Mathematics and Computer Science. She is HRO’s Social Chair and a member of The Crimson. When she isn’t writing, performing, or sleeping, she can likely be found several coffee cups in, psetting late into the night.
Jess Jenkins
Bio: Jess is a freshman violist in Wigglesworth from the beautiful beach town of Titahi Bay in Porirua, New Zealand. Outside of HRO, she loves singing, song-writing, running along the river, and drawing. She's also a member of the Harvard Callbacks and hopes to one day figure out what her concentration will be.
Bella Kim
Bio: Bella is a violist and sophomore in Dunster House concentrating in Neuroscience. She hails from Illinois, and when she isn’t playing viola or being a neuroscientist, she can be found making waffles early in the morning.
Brendon Lau
Bio: Brendon is a freshman violist living in Pennypacker, with an intended concentration in Applied Mathematics to Economics. He is HRO’s Operations Director, and aside from HRO he is a member of Brattle Street Chamber Players and does PBHA harmony mentoring. He enjoys binge watching movies, Portuguese egg tarts, and is a fan of Dictator Nick’s lengthy emails ;). If he isn’t sleeping, practicing, or at rehearsal, then he’s probably at Hemenway gym with HRO oboist John Russell.
Sidney Lee
Bio: Sidney is a freshman violist living in Weld, with an intended concentration in Statistics. Aside from HRO, she is also a member of The Harvard Crimson. Her additional hobbies include sleeping, eating string cheese, loving fruit-based beverages, and listening to Prokofiev.
Claire Xu
Bio:
Erin Yuan
Bio: Erin is a junior who studies Stat and plays viola in HRO. Outside of (lovingly) annoying her standpartner during rehearsals and (also lovingly) annoying her roommate when (if? haha jk) she practices, she also enjoys taking too many pictures of sunsets on the Charles, trying not to fall asleep in lecture, and telling viola jokes at her own expense.
Masako Yang
Bio:
Cello
Anthony Choi
Bio:
Eugene Ye
Bio: Eugene is a sophomore cellist in Cabot House concentrating in Applied Math. When he isn’t in HRO, he’s likely listening to Ravel or doing nothing else. Only Ravel.
Nicole Fang
Bio: Nicole is a first-year cellist in Thayer Hall who hopes to concentrate in Applied Math, Economics, and Computer Science. Outside of HRO, she loves to dance, paint, and spend late nights at Cabot.
Sol Gutierrez-Lara
Bio:
Bryan Han
Bio:
Elizabeth Norris
Bio:
Kobby Owusu
Bio:
Justin Shaw
Bio:
William Tan
Bio:
Sam Powell
Bio: Sam is a sophomore cellist in Cabot studying Economics. He is an avid New York Knicks fan, contrary to the fact that he is not a New Yorker. In the early morning, he is usually drinking too much coffee, but in the evenings he is an active poker player.
Dylan Wu
Bio: Dylan is a freshman cellist from Thayer concentrating in Applied Math while also pursuing a Masters in Music at New England Conservatory. In addition to HRO, he is a member of the Harvard Data Analytics Group, Harvard Financial Analysts Club, International Genetically Engineered Machine Club, Harvard Brain Review, and Astrophotography Club. When not playing music, he enjoys SCUBA Diving, crafting paper fighter jet models, and flying a drone to capture aerial cinematography.
Sean Yu
Bio: Sean is a freshman cellist living in Hollis with an intended concentration in Economics. He enjoys late night drives, cashews, and Dvorak.
Bass
Catherine Deskur
Bio: Catherine is a junior bassist (very rare) in Quincy (very common) studying Computer Science.
Alexander Tonelli
Bio: Alexander is a sophomore double bassist in Currier studying Applied Math/CS. Aside from HRO, he is involved in HPAIR, HCCG, Harvard Canadian Club, HCFA, and Club Soccer. Contrary to common consensus, he believes Felipe’s is better than Jefe’s, and would take Mario Kart Wii in Cabot over psetting any day.
Ben Witzel
Bio:
Flute
Sasha Hitachi-Kizziah
Bio: Sasha is a sophomore flute player in Kirkland House concentrating in Social Studies.
Amy Hwang
Bio: Amy is a sophomore in Eliot who plays the flute and is HRO’s Treasurer. In addition to music, Amy is also part of Harvard Consulting for Business and the Environment and the Harvard Institute of Politics Policy Program. When she isn’t crunching numbers, she can be found enjoying tteokbokki and bubble tea with friends.
Carolyn Lau
Bio:
Ariel Wang
Bio:
Oboe
Ashley Gong
Bio: Ashley is an oboist and sophomore in Eliot House concentrating in Computer Science and Classics. Aside from HRO, she is involved in Tech for Social Good, Harvard Open Data Project, the Mozart Society Orchestra, and Datamatch. Her favorite orchestral work is Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and she loves to snack on anything sweet that comes her way.
Thomas Juhasz
Bio: Thomas is a freshman oboist hailing from the greater Boston area and currently residing in Grays Hall. When he is not practicing oboe in his room or rehearsing with his (6!) fellow oboists, he can be found going for morning runs, reading texts in Ancient Greek, and sleepily debating philosophical topics with his roommate at 2 am.
Liv Oster
Bio: Liv is a sophomore oboist living in Eliot House and concentrating in English. Aside from HRO, she is also a Radcliffe Research Assistant. She loves eating HRO oboist Sunny Tang’s delicious baked goods, taking walks by the Charles, and curling up in pjs with a good book, chai tea, and a fuzzy blanket. When she isn’t taking shots of reed water, you may find her trying to learn the recorder or dabbling in swing dancing. Before developing these quirky interests, she was (perhaps understandably) a child who went to circus camp. And yes, she can ride a unicycle.
John Russell
Bio: John is a freshman oboist living in Thayer. Aside from HRO, he does Product Lab and Powerlifting, the latter of which he complements with regular visits to Hemenway gym with his good friend HRO violist Brendon Lau. In his free time, John also plays the bass guitar and enjoys bowling, reading, and sampling various desserts.
Sunny Tang
Bio: Sunny is a junior oboist in Adams House studying Chemistry. She originally hails from Houston, Texas and is renowned for holding her breath beyond human capacity should Fed require her to do so during solos.
Puyuan Ye
Bio:
Clarinet
Louis Auxenfans
Bio:
Clara Chen
Bio: Clara is a sophomore in Adams House concentrating in statistics with a secondary in music. In addition to playing clarinet in HRO, she is also a pianist and content chair for the Harvard College Piano Society. Outside of music, she is involved in the Harvard Data Analytics Group, the Asian American Dance Troupe, and the Harvard Radcliffe Modern Dance Company.
Alex Li
Bio: Alex is a freshman clarinetist in Grays with an intended concentration in bioengineering. At HRO, he serves as part of the social committee on the general board. In addition to HRO, he also plays Club Tennis. Once he successfully finds the will to get out of bed each morning, he may be found drinking coffee with a bagel in the Smith Center or exploring Boston to try the city’s best ramen spots.
Veronica Li
Bio: Veronica is a first-year clarinetist in Greenough with no known concentration. When she isn’t in HRO or on the grind, she’s likely at Zinnekins, Felipe’s, or Panera.
Cadee Lee
Bio:
Jacob Mandelbrot
Bio: Jacob is a freshman clarinetist in Stoughton studying computer science. Originally a resident of Wisconsin, he appreciates large bodies of water including his personal favorite, the Black Sea. He has significant artistic respect for HRO’s wonderful music director and also enjoys oversized pillows.
Omar Wahby
Bio:
Bassoon
Rahul Prasad
Bio: Rahul is a bassoonist (very rare) in Canaday studying computer science (very common) and music. Many passions revolve around coffee, including strange cups manufactured in the math lounge and free cups given out by the Capital One cafe. Unfortunately, this does not stop him from persistently waking up after Annenberg’s lunch hours.
Merle Goben
Horn
Roshen Chatwal
Bio: Roshen is a freshman french horn player in Thayer intending to study Economics and music performance at NEC as part of the dual degree program. When he isn’t listening to (or playing) Mahler 5, he is likely eating hot cheetos or doing karaoke.
Anselme Dojat
Bio:
Anna Teunis
Bio: Anna is a sophomore french horn player in Currier House concentrating in English. Aside from HRO, she is also a member of Harvard’s WHRB, and is deeply passionate about sleeping, sleeping, and Mahler.
Daniel Berk
Bio: Daniel is a sophomore French Horn player in Dunster House studying Economics. His extracurricular passions include the Behavioral Strategy Group, Club Squash, and the Crimson business team. Food passions include caramel M&Ms, Noch’s, and DHall coffee.
Isabelle Lee
Bio:
Nick Lee
Bio: Nick is a French Horn player and sophomore in Quincy House studying economics (and government). Nick serves as HRO’s President (read: Elected Dictator) and enjoys sending emails, organizing meetings, and generally power-tripping over the rest of HRO Board. You can often find him in Lamont after midnight, eating anywhere other than Quincy Dhall, and completing the system of German Idealism.
Chris Li
Bio: Chris Li is a freshman french horn player living in Holworthy. In addition to HRO, he is also a member of Harvard’s Asian American Dance Troupe (AADT) and the Harvard Crimson. When he isn’t sleeping, sleeping, or sleeping, he is likely eating clarinet reeds (buffet style), drinking Lychee Calpico (mixed with valve oil, of course), or listening to Brahms 3.
Ishaan Modi
Bio: Ishaan is a French Horn player in Eliot studying Neuroscience at Harvard and music performance at NEC as part of the dual degree program. Athletic passions include club tennis and intramural sports. Late night passions include grabbing Noch’s at 1am right before they close, an exhilarating habit that occasionally leads him to snoozing his alarm early in the morning.
Keneil Soni
Bio: Keneil is a first-year French Horn player from Long Island (New York) who plans to enter the field of medicine. Outside of HRO, he enjoys sports, hanging out with friends, and sleeping.
Abe Wieland
Bio: Abe is a junior French Horn player in Currier House studying Computer Science. Hailing from South Dakota, he is actively learning German and participates in the Harvard Undergraduate Cybersecurity Club and the Harvard Catholic Center. In his free time he enjoys “Cheese. Just plain cheese, cheese on crackers, things flavored by cheese. Cheeeeese.”
Trumpet
Charlie Chen
Bio:
Harry Epstein
Bio: Harry is a sophomore trumpet player in Quincy House studying Psychology with a secondary in Music. When he isn't playing chess on his phone instead of counting rests during rehearsals, he can usually be found complaining about his premed problem sets that would take much less time if he just did them instead of playing chess on his phone while not counting rests during rehearsals. Harry also enjoys Mel Brooks films, rooting for the once-glorious, now-hopeless Patriots, and admiring Camden Archambeau from afar during rehearsals (and not during rehearsals).
Catherine Li
Bio:
James McAffrey
Bio: James is a freshman trumpet player living in Hollis with an intended concentration in History or Government. He originally hails from Oklahoma City, and besides music, he is also a rock climber, a rower, an editor for the Harvard Political Review, and a baker.
Hanna Pak
Bio: Hanna is a Junior in Mather House studying Computer Science. Outside of HRO rehearsals, you can find them playing video games, training for triathlons, or going to raves. During HRO rehearsals, they usually just get bullied by the rest of the trumpet section. Please make it stop. Just because they are short does not mean this is okay.
Trombone
Izhaan Ahmed
Bio:
Bobby Burns
Bio:
Thomas Gustafson
Bio: Thomas is a first-year trombonist from St. Louis who is considering majoring in physics. He plays on Harvard’s Red Line Ultimate Frisbee team, and enjoys reading and solving crosswords in his free time.
Tuba
Rebecca Hirschfeld
Bio:
Ben Arthurs
Bio:
Harp
Gabrielle Grant
Bio: Gabrielle is a harpist and junior in Pfoho concentrating in Economics. Aside from HRO, she is a member of the Harvard College in Asia Program and dances with Harvard’s Asian American Dance Troupe. She can often be found listening to (or playing) Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, watching K-Dramas (when she should be doing her homework), or walking to class while listening to a banger playlist.
Allison Mi
Bio:
Percussion
Ruben Fonseca
Bio: Ruben is a junior percussionist in Adams House studying Mechanical Engineering. In addition to HRO, he is also a member of HMUN, Club Table Tennis, SHPE, and Fuerza Latina. He enjoys sleeping and popcorn over late-night psetting, is an avid fan of Mahler, and drinks water (he’s hydrated).
Dylan Goodman
Bio: Dylan is a sophomore percussionist in Dunster House pursuing a joint degree in Government and AFVS with a secondary in Music. Aside from HRO, she is a Harvard Admissions Tour Guide; a photographer for Harvard Athletics, The Crimson, and Harvard Admissions; and a member of the Harvard Jazz Orchestra, Harvard Chabad, and Hillel. You may often find her with a Starbucks Violet Drink or late night Pinocchio’s Pizza in hand (and a camera in the other, of course).
Trinity Holland
Bio:
Joshua Qin
Bio:
William Xu
Bio: William is a freshman percussionist in Weld with an intended concentration in Neurobiology. Aside from HRO, he is also a part of AACF (Asian American Christian Fellowship), PBHA (Phillips Brooks House Association), and PMS (Pre-Medical Society). When he isn’t jumping from instrument to instrument, he is likely sleeping in Cabot with a Felipe’s burrito in hand.
Student
Conductors
Yizhe Sun
Isaac Newman
Bio: Isaac is a conductor and cellist living in Quincy House. He is a music concentrator and also enjoys taking language classes. Besides HRO, Isaac also conducts the Hasty Pudding Theatricals and the Mozart Society Orchestra. When he’s not conducting, Isaac enjoys singing in musicals/operette, cooking for friends, and playing ultimate frisbee.
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