School Notes: School of Music
May/June 2012

Two receive Sanford Medal

In February, Dean Robert Blocker presented the Sanford Medal, the School of Music’s highest honor, to two alumni for “distinguished service to music.” Cellist Jian Wang ’88CMus, whom Blocker called “one of the leading cellists of our age,” received the medal before performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major with the Yale Philharmonia. Early music pioneer William Christie ’69MusM received the Sanford Medal on February 25, before leading the Yale Philharmonia, Yale Baroque Ensemble, and the new Yale Choral Artists in an all-Handel program. The program was presented that night in Morse Recital Hall and again to warm critical acclaim in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on February 26.

Guitar Extravaganza returns

Guitar aficionados enjoyed a seventh Yale Guitar Extravaganza, directed by faculty member Benjamin Verdery, on March 24. The daylong event featured performances by SoloDuo (Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli), Kim Perlak ’01MusM, Zaira Meneses, and the electric guitar quartet Dither (whose members include James Moore ’06MusM). The day opened with performances by two youth ensembles, the Hartt Suzuki Guitar Ensemble and the Heritage High School Guitar Ensemble (directed by Kevin Vigil ’99MusM). Students took part in master classes with Zaira Meneses and the members of SoloDuo. Educators Scott Cmiel, Daniel Corr ’01MusM, ’02ArtA, Jeffrey McFadden, Kim Perlak ’01MusM, Verdery, and Vigil came together for a panel discussion on the future of classical guitar pedagogy. Other sessions featured faculty member Jack Vees and, in a talk held at the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments, luthier Gary Lee.

Alumni gather in New York

The School of Music hosted a gathering for New York–area alumni at Steinway Hall on April 17. The event began with a reception that offered the opportunity to reconnect with alumni from across the years, and continued with a performance by four alumni of the piano program: Wen-Yin Chan ’04MusM, ’06MusAM, ’12MusAD; Han-chien Lee ’05MusAM, ’06ArtA; Mimi Solomon ’99; and Lucas Wong ’06MusM, ’07MusAM, ’12MusAD.