A patron of the Case Western Reserve University Department of Music sat in the audience in Harkness Chapel as the CWRU University Circle Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's Symphony #1 on its fall concert.

Not only did the music have this person sitting on the edge of the seat but also inspired thoughts that a cellist or violinist—or perhaps the enthusiastic conductor perched on a makeshift platform extended from the stage's edge—might fall off the crowded stage.

When the CWRU University Circle Orchestra performs its winter concert at 8 p.m. February 12, the musicians will have no such worries. The patron has become an anonymous donor, who rented Severance Hall for $10,000 for one rehearsal and a concert to showcase this orchestra in a free public performance.

Kathleen Horvath, the orchestra's conductor and CWRU assistant professor of music, couldn't be happier.

Horvath said she has struggled creatively for two semesters to fit her full and burgeoning orchestra with as many as 80 musicians-all undergraduate students from various majors across the University and with many years of music lessons and playing experiences-onto the Harkness stage.

At last fall's concert, this ensemble just barely fit after she removed unnecessary pianos, a harpsichord and other instruments. She still lacked space-even with additional platforms-but what saved the orchestra were the unexpected and legitimate absences of four students who missed the concert.

The winter concert's program also posed a challenge for Horvath, who is featuring two of the three concerto competition winners-both piano soloists.

With the donation of Severance Hall for the evening, Horvath, who runs the orchestra on a limited budget, could put away the two-by-fours and saw horses and concentrate on the score.

The orchestra will accompany Matthew Weldon in Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 102 and Carl Heuckendorf in J.S. Bach's Piano Concerto No. 5, F Minor, BMV 1056. Also on the concert program are Aaron Copland's An Outdoor Overture and "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo and Felix Mendelssohn's Sinfonia IX.

"These students are fabulous musicians," says Horvath.

According to Horvath, the CWRU University Circle Orchestra is one of the gems of University Circle but has played for decades in the shadows of the limelight of Severance Hall and Cleveland Institute of Music.

The orchestra was founded in 1966 by James Levine, who at the age of 21 came to Cleveland after studying at Julliard School to assist George Szell in conducting at the Cleveland Orchestra. The ensemble originally was called the University Circle Chamber Orchestra and in its early days was filled with students from the Cleveland Institute of Music and CWRU. Over the years, it has maintained its mission to give students with an interest in music the opportunity to play.

It also provides conducting experiences for masters' and doctoral students in CWRU's music education program such as assistant conductors Robert Bassill, Noel Bliss and Rachel Martin, who work with the orchestra.

All students audition for a space in the orchestra, but because of their talents and training, Horvath said few students are turned away.

"This speaks to the quality of student that is coming to CWRU," she said.

Looking toward the big night on stage at Severance, Horvath said the students find it an overwhelming and once-in-a-lifetime experience. When the lights come up after final bows at Severance, Horvath again will begin to think creatively of how and where to stage the next concert.

For tickets, call the CWRU music department at 368-2400.