Allison Eck

I first encountered classical music as a pre-teen, mostly through orchestral works arranged for wind ensemble (I’ve been an avid clarinetist since the fourth grade). But when I heard Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending on my grandmother’s radio as we were baking cookies, I was immediately transfixed by the beauty of the full symphony orchestra. Of course, that was the perfect piece for an angsty teenager’s ears! Since then, I’ve taught myself French horn; performed the entire Mozart Clarinet Concerto with full orchestra; written about the relationship between chamber music and teamwork for Adobe 99U; served as the president of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in Cambridge, MA; and connected with various members of the Boston new music community. 

By day, I am the speechwriter for the dean of Harvard Medical School. I also have a background in science journalism, having worked for NOVA (the PBS documentary series) for seven years. My favorite places on Earth include Boston’s Symphony Hall, Sofra (my neighborhood Turkish café), Mount Auburn Cemetery across the street, and my apartment—where you can find me reading, cuddling with my cat, or churning homemade ice cream.