Fifty years at Yale: the growth and impact of the ISM
As the ISM celebrates its half-century at Yale, learn about the impact it has had at Yale and all over the world in this special anniversary video with ISM director Martin Jean. Watch here.
David Hill conducts his final performance at Yale
The stunning 50th anniversary performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor was David's last concert in New Haven before he steps down as conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum after eleven years at Yale. Read more.
Anthem of Praise: A Salute to Richard Smallwood
If any fans or practitioners of gospel music in New Haven had been unaware that the ISM offers an Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church, they are unaware no longer. The program burst into the spotlight on the evening of Friday, April 19 with an exuberant celebration of gospel music by a star-studded cast of performers from all over the country who came to pay tribute to music legend Richard Smallwood. Read more and view the concert recording.
Bach's B Minor Mass tours six UK cities in May and June
From May 28 to June 6, Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 will perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor in six cities throughout the United Kingdom. The concerts will be conducted by David Hill before he steps down from his Yale role in June. View details.
Anniversary celebrations culminate with May 5 hymn festival
On Sunday, May 5, the ISM will hold an ecumenical hymn festival in Woolsey Hall where Yale Camerata and a community choir of 300 voices will sing hymns around the theme “All Creation Sings.” Barbara Brown Taylor and James Forbes will be the special guest preachers. Read more.
FACULTY NEWS
Picturing the Bible in Early Christianity and Byzantium
In a new course taught by Vasileios Marinis and Felicity Harley-McGowan, students learn about the evolution of the Christian book through the Byzantine period by interacting with special collections in the Yale libraries. Read more.
Braxton Shelley's newest book
In his new book, Professor Braxton Shelley explores Bishop G. E. Patterson’s eternal transmission of the sacred through Black Pentecostal music-making. Read more.
New publications for Bryan Spinks
Professor emeritus Bryan Spinks recently had a new article and two reviews published, and is preparing to present a paper at a conference in May. Read more.
FELLOWS NEWS
Cory Hunter on Gospel music and new approaches to musicology
In a recent podcast, ISM fellow Dr. Cory Hunter speaks with Sindy Yang M.A.R. ‘25 about his research on gospel music, exploring how his background in music performance, religion, and theology brings innovation to his methodologies as a scholar. Listen here.
Janie Cole gives NYU keynote lecture
Dr. Janie Cole gave a keynote speech at New York University at the end of April. Aligning with her research work as an ISM fellow, the topic was “Music, Architecture, and Afro-Eurasian Migrations in the Christian Kingdom of Early Modern Ethiopia." Learn about ISM fellowships.
STUDENT AND ALUMNI NEWS
Student Spotlight: Terrance McQueen
Hailing from Fort Pierce, Florida, Terrance McQueen, M.Div. '24 is particularly interested in understanding how churches might adapt their liturgies and theologies to be inclusive. Read more.
Two ISM students win singing awards
Soprano Juliet Papadopoulos M.M. ‘24 and mezzo-soprano Sandy Sharis M.M.A. ‘24 won prizes in the recent annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition in New York. Read more.
Alum appointed at Uppsala Cathedral
Former student of Tom Murray, Robert Bennesh M.M. ’14, A.D. ’15, was recently appointed as organist and choir master at Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden. Read more.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bach's Mass in B Minor
Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415, conducted by David Hill, performed Bach's B Minor Mass in Woolsey Hall on Saturday, April 27. View the concert recording.
Music and Mind Masterclass
Held on April 18, the Music and Mind masterclass featured a conversation with Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and Braxton Shelley. Watch here.
Biophilia art exhibit opening panel
Listen to the March 27 panel conversation at the opening of the Biophilia: In Excelsis art exhibit where NASA’s Dr. Gavin Schmidt talked with several artists about the ecological themes explored in the exhibit. Watch here.
Repertory Chorus Recital
Watch the Repertory Chorus recital from April 15 with conducting students Mahima Kumara, Rachel Segman, and Alex Whittington (all M.M. ‘25) Watch here.
