ince 1962, tours have been a vital part of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. Over the past six decades, the ensemble has successfully toured the Philippines, Canada, the former Soviet Union, East Asia, Central Europe, Italy, Mexico, and most recently, Korea. In total, HRO has toured more than eighteen countries across four continents.
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The HRO tours every other year to share our music with global audiences and advance cultural exchange, whether through collaborating with local music ensembles or visiting historic sites. In traveling abroad and performing together, students form and strengthen many friendships, making tours vital to the orchestra’s sense of community. The HRO takes pride in the degree of musicianship and camaraderie that our tours foster and understands that every time we set foot in another country, we are ambassadors for Harvard.

We are excited to announce that in 2026, we will return to Japan for the first time in over 40 years. The tour’s guiding theme of Music as Peace is inspired by the upcoming 70th anniversary of Nihon Hidankyo, a group representing the survivors of the tragic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024. 

Under the baton of Maestro Federico Cortese, we will present three concerts: on May 20 in Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama, on May 23 in Nagasaki Brick Hall, and on May 24 in Phoenix Hall in Hiroshima. Each concert program will feature acclaimed violinist and Harvard alumna Stella Chen performing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, alongside Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the following partners and sponsors for their generous support of the tour.