In the community room at Youville Hospital of Cambridge hung a colorful sign. It read:

Today is February 23, 2008.

The season is winter.

The weather is cold and snowy.

The climate outside was chilly indeed. However, if the nursing staff had added a line to characterize the atmosphere prevailing within their establishment on this Saturday morning, "enthusiastic" and "appreciative" would have been ideal adjectives. Patients were visibly full of gratitude following an energetic musical performance by several representatives from Harvard-Radcliffe MIHNUET. The hour-long concert was only the first trip of the service group's spring semester kick-off weekend and would be followed by afternoon outings on both Saturday and Sunday to area nursing homes.

With her cello strapped to her back, Monica Jun '10 was the initial intrepid musician to arrive in front of the Science Center at the prearranged time of 9:40 a.m. One by one, the other performers soon assembled and greeted their colleagues with genuine smiles at an hour when many students choose to stay curled up under the covers. However, they resolutely set out on a ten minute march, trudging to the hospital through the deep slush and puddles lingering from the Nor'easter of the night before.

When the troupe arrived at Youville, word rapidly spread of the morning's concert event and numerous patients gathered, though many more would convene as the first strains of freshman George Lu's expressive Chopin piece penetrated the halls. With a professional flourish, George extracted a Steinway-quality performance from the humble Ivers and Pond upright at which he played. The brother team of Ben Le '08 and Joseph '10 also took advantage of the on-site piano for their duet. While the younger sibling attacked the keys, Ben drew out from his violin the sweet melodies of four Chinese hymns. So exquisite was the collaboration that, upon its completion, an audience member felt roused to spontaneously proclaim, "We are so spoiled!"

Next up for her moment in the spotlight was first-time volunteer Monica, who mesmerized her audience not only by her Bach selections, but also, as a lady exuberantly gushed, by her quite stylish pink snow boots. The final act of the morning was then skillfully delivered by MIHNUET Co-President Helen Cho '10, who displayed her virtuosity by performing first a traditional Korean piece followed up with a lively Scottish fiddle tune, a song which she accurately introduced as "the fun stuff" and left everyone in good humor. On that spirited note, the formal component of the presentation was complete, yet the students were in no rush to leave. All actively sought to engage the patients in conversation and thus put a personal face on the musical delights of the morning.

It was only fitting that, as the volunteers were retrieving their coats, a classical piece could be heard emanating from the hospital sound system. With a bit of reflection, two students quickly recognized the composition as a Chopin waltz. The contagious grins which rapidly spread over their faces at this identification were one final compelling indicator of the sophistication and good-nature of MIHNUET members. These truly classy individuals not only share a passion for fine music, but also take profound pleasure in the superior company of both their peers and the patients whom they serve. The symphonic notes they create every weekend certainly deserve a note of appreciation.

– Emily Biberger