Yale Institute of Sacred Music

Congratulations to the students who won this year's Students’ Choice for Best Colloquium Presentation.

The winners consisted of one solo presentation (Kevin Vondrak D.M.A. '30) and one team presentation (Nicholas Stigall M.M. '26 & Stephanie Roston M.A.R. '26).

Photos of the award-winners receiving certificates from student presenter Xenya Currie M.A.R. '27 by Harold Shapiro

Learn about applying to the ISM and our partner schools (Yale Divinity School and Yale School of Music): https://ism.yale.edu/graduate-study/admission-graduate-study

Yale Divinity School Yale School of Music

All are welcome to join us for an organ recital featuring Yale Organ Academy faculty on Monday, June 15. The recital will begin in Dwight Chapel (67 High St.) at 7:30 p.m., then progress to Battell Chapel (400 College), and then conclude at Christ Church New Haven (84 Broadway). Free and open to the public.

Performers: Martin Jean, James O'Donnell and Ken Cowan

View all upcoming Yale Organ Academy recitals: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-06-03-yale-organ-academy-announces-series-of-june-recitals

Yale School of Music New Haven AGO Yale Divinity School Christ Church, New Haven CT

Congratulations to Sully Hart M.Div./MSW '26, seen here after receiving the ISM Student Community Award from presenter Xenya Currie M.A.R. '27.

Photo by Harold Shapiro

See all of our 2026 graduates and prizewinners here: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-05-18-congratulations-class-of-2026

Yale Divinity School

On their recent tour of Italy, Grete Pedersen, Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 had the opportunity to perform in a number extraordinary locations, including Chiesa di San Paolo entro le Mura (Rome), Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (Brescia), St. Peter’s Basilica (Perugia), Basilica of the Frari (Venice), Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Venice), and Teatro Verdi Trieste (Trieste).

Schola Cantorum embarks on an international performance tour every other year, alternating years with the ISM International Study Tour. Learn about applying to the ISM in the Graduate Study section at ism.yale.edu

Photos 1-5 by Jeff Hazewinkel
Photo 6 by Grace Currie

Congratulations to Stephanie Roston M.A.R. '26 and Alexander Walton M.A.R. '26, who were announced as the winners of the John W. Cook Prize in Religion and the Arts at the ISM's annual graduation dinner. Here they are pictured with faculty presenter Felicity Harley-McGowan.

Photo by Harold Shapiro

View all of our 2026 prizewinners: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-05-18-congratulations-class-of-2026

Yale Divinity School

Congratulations to the students who won this year's Director’s Prize, awarded to the ISM student or students who, in the opinion of the faculty, gave the best Colloquium presentations.

The winners consisted of two team presentations (Joseph O'Brien M.M. '26 & Abigail Schweizer M.A.R. '26, and Jordan Baker M.Div. '26 & Scottie Rogers M.M.A. '26) and one solo presentation (Kevin Vondrak D.M.A. '30).

Photos of the award-winning teams with faculty presenter Sally Promey by Harold Shapiro

View all of our 2026 prizewinners here: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-05-18-congratulations-class-of-2026

Yale Divinity School Yale School of Music

As part of the upcoming 2026 Yale Organ Academy, the ISM is offering a series of organ recitals which are free and open to the public.

Monday, June 15: An organ recital with Yale Organ Academy faculty members Martin Jean (Yale ISM), James O’Donnell (Yale ISM) and Ken Cowan (Rice University) beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Dwight Chapel and progressing to Battell Chapel and then to Christ Church New Haven.

Tuesday, June 16: An evening of Baroque music with Yale Organ Academy faculty and guest artists, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Marquand Chapel.

Friday, June 19: An organ recital by students from Yale Organ Academy, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Dwight Chapel and then progressing to Battell Chapel.

Details: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-06-03-yale-organ-academy-announces-series-of-june-recitals

Yale School of Music New Haven AGO Marquand Chapel Christ Church, New Haven CT Yale Divinity School

Congratulations to Catherine Campbell S.T.M. '26 and Stephanie Roston M.A.R. '26, who were announced as the winners of the Liturgical Studies Prize at the ISM's annual graduation dinner. Here they are pictured with faculty presenter Gabriel Radle.

Photo by Harold Shapiro

View all of our 2026 prizewinners: https://ism.yale.edu/posts/2026-05-18-congratulations-class-of-2026

Yale Divinity School

In the current edition of the Yale Journal of Music and Religion, Sourav Saha (Shiv Nadar University) contributes the article "Tuning the Neighborhood: Purifying People, Places, and Environments in Suburban Kolkata."

This article examines how vibration (spandan) operates as a metaphysical, sensory, and ethico-affective force that mediates relations among people, places, and environments. Focusing on the practice of satsang adhibesan (devotional congregation), the article demonstrates how members of the Deoghar-Satsang community participate in sonic rituals of prayer, silent chanting, meditation, sacred recitation, and devotional song to tune their bodies and environments much like a radio receiver.

Read the article here: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yjmr/vol12/iss1/2

Yale School of Music Yale Divinity School Yale Department of Music

A few more photos from Yale Schola Cantorum's recent performing tour of Italy!

Learn more about Schola Cantorum: https://ism.yale.edu/choirs/yale-schola-cantorum

Photos courtesy of Grace Currie

Yale School of Music