To the Editor:
Lisa Melvin '07 remarks about a long-standing practice of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra to bring in professionals to fill out those stands when the conductor "turns away many musicians who do not live up to his expectations of orchestral experience" ("Ringers for the Orchestra," Feb. 23).
There are simple reasons for this:
(1) The Hopkins Center would not tolerate an amateur student orchestra in its season;
(2) The Hopkins Center hires highly professional conductors who would not choose to work with an amateur student orchestra;
(3) The majority of the people who buy tickets to hear the orchestra are Hanover or Norwich community members who want to hear a professional orchestra.
Until Dartmouth's student body agrees with Melvin, demands an all-student orchestra and buys the tickets, this situation will not change.
