Celebration

On Friday evening, October 14th 2011, in Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard’s extended family of faculty, students, staff, alumni and invited guests gathered together for a festive evening featuring fabulous desserts, a memorable musical performance and a dance party with a fantastic live band.

Roving student performers represented a rich array of cultural traditions; dancers, musicians, a cappella groups and soloists.  Colorful parades featured Harvard alumni, each of the undergraduate Houses, and Harvard’s graduate and professional schools, and Tercentenary Theatre, the site of the University’s annual Commencement ceremony, was transformed with lighting and special effects.

The Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra performed, accompanied by a chorus of over a hundred student voices followed by a solo  performance by our own international celebrity cellist, Yo-Yo Ma ‘76.

Dessert offerings and refreshments by local chefs were provided by Taza chocolate, Harpoon 1636 beer, and fresh-pressed organic cider. Other treats included ice cream made using liquid nitrogen and Two Degrees, a nutrition bar, which when purchased, helps with famine relief. The centerpiece of the evening was a giant red velvet birthday cake; a special creation by award-winning pastry Chef JoAnn Chang ’91, of Flour Bakery around which all of the deans gathered to lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday”.

The evening concluded with dancing and music by the Jimmy Vali Band. The Celebration marked a milestone in Harvard’s long history is intended to launch a year-long series of programs and events to begin the next exciting chapter for our venerable University.