Composers’ works featured at festival
The New Music New Haven series was showcased during the 2016 NY Phil Biennial. A concert program began with a performance by soprano Jessica Pray ’17MusM of Charles Ives songs and continued with performances of works by YSM faculty composers Martin Bresnick (And I Always Thought, North American premiere), Aaron Jay Kernis ’83MusM (Toward the Setting Sun, world premiere, with YSM dean Robert Blocker), David Lang ’89MusAD (where you go, New York premiere), Hannah Lash ’12ArtA (Leaves, Space, New York premiere), and Christopher Theofanidis ’97MusAD (Kaoru). The program concluded with the world premiere of For your judicious and pious consideration, by Hilary Purrington ’17MusAM.
Mourning lost musical luminaries
Philip F. Nelson, a musicologist who served from 1970 to 1980 as dean of the Yale School of Music, died June 10 at age 88. During his tenure, Nelson appointed to YSM’s faculty such influential figures as Krzysztof Penderecki and Claude Frank, and welcomed the Tokyo String Quartet, which remained in residence until 2013. Nelson’s tenure also saw the establishment of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, the Duke Ellington Fellowship, and the Sanford Visiting Artist Fellowship. The school’s Philip Nelson Prize for Musical Entrepreneurship honors his legacy.
Phyllis Curtin, who was 94 when she died on June 5, taught voice and oversaw the opera program from 1974 to 1983. Curtin served in the last four years of that period as master (now head of school) of Branford College. During her career, Curtin sang with the New York City Opera and appeared on the some of the world’s most iconic stages. Each year, YSM’s Phyllis Curtin Career Entry Prize recognizes a graduating singer who embodies Curtin’s artistic values.
Robert E. Nagel Jr., who was 91 when he died on June 5, was a member of YSM’s faculty from 1957 to 1988, after which he served as professor emeritus. A trumpeter and composer, Nagel founded the New York Brass Quintet and the International Trumpet Guild.
loading
Print
Email