This morning, string musicians from the MIT Symphony Orchestra were joined by colleagues from the Brookline Symphony Orchestra in a musical tribute to victims of yesterday’s elementary-school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
The impromptu, 35-minute concert took place in MIT’s Lobby 7, drawing an audience of about 150 people.
Adam Boyles, a lecturer in MIT’s Music and Theatre Section and the conductor of the MIT Symphony Orchestra, organized the gathering.
“This tragedy is painful for us all,” said Boyles ahead of the performance. “The MIT musical community will respond to violence with love and art, and our students will be ambassadors of peace.”
The 20 assembled musicians performed works including Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” Giacomo Puccini’s “Crisantemi,” and Jean Sibelius’ “Andante festivo.” They also sang and played “Dona Nobis Pacem” (“Grant Us Peace”), a hymn from the Latin Mass.
MIT President L. Rafael Reif, in a Friday afternoon email to the MIT community, wrote, “The tragic school shooting in Connecticut this morning is a terrible reminder to us all of the fragility of individuals and of our daily lives together; our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those involved.”
Members of the MIT community who feel affected by the Connecticut shooting are encouraged to contact Mental Health Services at 617-253-2916.
The impromptu, 35-minute concert took place in MIT’s Lobby 7, drawing an audience of about 150 people.
Adam Boyles, a lecturer in MIT’s Music and Theatre Section and the conductor of the MIT Symphony Orchestra, organized the gathering.
“This tragedy is painful for us all,” said Boyles ahead of the performance. “The MIT musical community will respond to violence with love and art, and our students will be ambassadors of peace.”
The 20 assembled musicians performed works including Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” Giacomo Puccini’s “Crisantemi,” and Jean Sibelius’ “Andante festivo.” They also sang and played “Dona Nobis Pacem” (“Grant Us Peace”), a hymn from the Latin Mass.
MIT President L. Rafael Reif, in a Friday afternoon email to the MIT community, wrote, “The tragic school shooting in Connecticut this morning is a terrible reminder to us all of the fragility of individuals and of our daily lives together; our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those involved.”
Members of the MIT community who feel affected by the Connecticut shooting are encouraged to contact Mental Health Services at 617-253-2916.
