Choral Program Reviewed

The College has launched its first review of Harvard's choral programs in more than a decade, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said yesterday.

The dean said the review was prompted by the expansion of Harvard's choral music opportunities during the past 20 years.

"Our program has grown enormously in the last two decades," said Epps, who is leading the review.

The review comes as the contract of Associate Director of Choral Activities Beverly J. Taylor goes up for renewal. Contract discussions are not explicitly part of the process.

A final decision on her contract has been delayed for more than a month, and Taylor herself said yesterday that she is not sure how her job will be affected by the review.

"Two things are going on this year" said Taylor, who conducts the Radcliffe Choral Society and the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus.

"The undergraduate choral programs as a whole is being reviewed to see if we're going to stay the way we are, and along those lines, my contract's being reviewed to see if I'll fit in with those changes," she said.

Students who work with Taylor in the Radcliff Choral Society said they were surprised that the popular director's contract has become an issue.

"Everyone was surprised," said Caprice A.Corona '97. "They didn't even realize that thereview was going on, but they weren't veryworried [about Taylor keeping her job]."

According to a timetable established lastsummer by Epps and a special advisory group whichis helping the dean of students with his review,January 1 was supposed to be the deadline forTaylor's contract discussions. Taylor saidyesterday, however, that there have been delays inthe process of renewing her contract.

"It was originally going to be January 1 andthen early February," Taylor said. "My best guessis March 5-10."

If possible, Taylor said she would like acontract with a five-year clause similar to thatof Director of Choral Activities Jameson N.Marvin.

Epps declined to comment on the specifics ofthe contract discussions yesterday. The dean didsay that the review of Taylor's contract willlikely conclude in about three weeks.

A group of six musicians from the area areattending rehearsals of various choral groups inan effort to aid the review, Epps said.

Epps has distributed a questionnaire askingstudents to evaluate the performance of bothMarvin and Taylor.

The questionnaire was distributed to studentsin the Radcliffe Choral Society and theHarvard-Radcliff chorus. Members of the Glee Cluband the Collegium Musicum, both of Asking forstudent input regarding the choral department isnothing unusual, Epps said, since "that'sconsistent with what Harvard does in classes."

Taylor has held her current post since 1978.Unlike Marvin who is a senior lecturer as well aschoral director working under a five-yearrenewable contract, Taylor has a one-yearrenewable pact.

The discrepancy in Taylor's and Marvin'scontracts results from the academic nature ofMarvin's position as senior lecturer and thenon-academic nature of Taylor's position.

It seems that if Epps closely follows therecommendations of those who have worked withTaylor, the director's contract will be renewed.

"It you're asking whether she's good conductorand a good musician and good for Harvard, theanswer to those is yes," said Daniel B. Curl '64,who is a member of the executive committee of theHarvard Glee Club

"Everyone was surprised," said Caprice A.Corona '97. "They didn't even realize that thereview was going on, but they weren't veryworried [about Taylor keeping her job]."

According to a timetable established lastsummer by Epps and a special advisory group whichis helping the dean of students with his review,January 1 was supposed to be the deadline forTaylor's contract discussions. Taylor saidyesterday, however, that there have been delays inthe process of renewing her contract.

"It was originally going to be January 1 andthen early February," Taylor said. "My best guessis March 5-10."

If possible, Taylor said she would like acontract with a five-year clause similar to thatof Director of Choral Activities Jameson N.Marvin.

Epps declined to comment on the specifics ofthe contract discussions yesterday. The dean didsay that the review of Taylor's contract willlikely conclude in about three weeks.

A group of six musicians from the area areattending rehearsals of various choral groups inan effort to aid the review, Epps said.

Epps has distributed a questionnaire askingstudents to evaluate the performance of bothMarvin and Taylor.

The questionnaire was distributed to studentsin the Radcliffe Choral Society and theHarvard-Radcliff chorus. Members of the Glee Cluband the Collegium Musicum, both of Asking forstudent input regarding the choral department isnothing unusual, Epps said, since "that'sconsistent with what Harvard does in classes."

Taylor has held her current post since 1978.Unlike Marvin who is a senior lecturer as well aschoral director working under a five-yearrenewable contract, Taylor has a one-yearrenewable pact.

The discrepancy in Taylor's and Marvin'scontracts results from the academic nature ofMarvin's position as senior lecturer and thenon-academic nature of Taylor's position.

It seems that if Epps closely follows therecommendations of those who have worked withTaylor, the director's contract will be renewed.

"It you're asking whether she's good conductorand a good musician and good for Harvard, theanswer to those is yes," said Daniel B. Curl '64,who is a member of the executive committee of theHarvard Glee Club