Mission

The Friends of Music at Yale principally support undergraduate musical activities at Yale. Our mission is to further, at Yale University, learning in the art of music in all its forms and aspects, and to that end to solicit and encourage contributions of money and other gifts to support special music-related collections and faculty-directed undergraduate organizations whose sources of funds are not sufficient to accomplish their goals. We wish to further in every possible way the growth of musical culture in the undergraduate life of Yale College and in the community. 

What’s happening so far this year?

This Fall our Cynthia W. Dixon Memorial Fund provided private music lesson scholarships for nine Yale undergraduates.

In mid-November Yale College New Music, premiered new art songs of eight Yale College composers at the Beinecke Library, featuring guest artists Jennifer Beattie, mezzo-soprano, and Adam Marks, keyboardist.

Professor Wendy Sharp’s Chamber Music students just gave us two wonderful mid- December chamber concerts highlighting their many musical achievements.

We will have more concert events in the second semester, including a Friends of Music Undergraduate Honors Recital!

The Friends of Music also provides the Beekman Cannon Friends of Music Prize, which is awarded to the undergraduate student who has completed either the most outstanding senior essay on a musical subject or the most impressive musical composition exhibiting unusual originality and promise.  In May 2018 the prize was jointly awarded to senior Yale College composers Max Vinetz and Miles Walter for their excellent pieces; and, in May 2017 it was awarded to Emma Hathaway, our outstanding graduating Yale College music historian.

We also sponsor an array of professional guest speakers and performing artists who visit Yale College at the invitation of our music faculty to enhance students’ on-campus musical experiences.  Recent guests in Fall 2018 include violinist Nadia Sirota and composers Michael Torke and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
 

Upcoming concerts:

1. Chamber Music Galore V! - Thursday, February 28th, 5:15 pm in the Beinecke Library featuring new works for mixed quartet (flute, clarinet, violin & violoncello) written by Yale College composers and performed by guest artists Da Capo Chamber Players. If you can, please join us after the concert for a reception on the Mezzanine!

2. Chamber Music Recitals - Sunday, April 28th at 3 pm and 8 pm in Sudler Hall.  
Students of Professor Wendy Sharp performing in their end-of-year concerts.   

3. Our Friends of Music Undergraduate Honors Recital - TBA.