School Notes: School of Music
September/October 2015

Symposium addresses music education

The fifth Symposium on Music in Schools took place June 4–7 on the Yale campus. For the first time, the biennial event focused on partnerships between public school music programs and professional music organizations. The School of Music selected 38 partnerships from across the United States; two representatives from each partnership came to New Haven to participate and to receive the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Awards. The symposium was designed to spark ideas and provoke conversation: workshops on topical issues were followed by breakout sessions that explored ideas in depth. Keynote speakers were composer David Lang ’89MusAD; MacArthur fellow Sebastian Ruth, founder of Community MusicWorks; and journalist Joanne Lipman ’83. Symposium director Michael Yaffe, associate dean of the School of Music, expressed the hope that the symposium will be a springboard for further work on the importance of music partnerships in today’s world. The biennial symposium was made possible by an endowment created by the Yale College Class of 1957.

Alumni appointments

Kate Sheeran ’04MusM was appointed provost and dean of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the conservatory announced in May. Sheeran, a professional hornist as well as administrator, previously served as assistant dean at Mannes School of Music of The New School. As SFCM’s chief academic officer, Sheeran will oversee all aspects of the school’s academic programs.

The San Diego Symphony announced in June that Kensho Watanabe ’09, ’10MusM, will serve as the orchestra’s inaugural conducting fellow. Jahja Ling ’80MusAM, ’85MusAD, who has been the music director of the San Diego Symphony, plans to step down at the end of the 2016–2017 season. Ling was honored with YSM’s Distinguished Service Award at the annual honors dinner in May.

Christopher Cerrone wins Rome Prize

Composer Christopher Cerrone ’14MusAD has been named the winner of the Samuel Barber Rome Prize for 2015–16. The annual Rome Prize Fellowship supports advanced independent work in the arts and humanities in a unique residential community in Rome. Cerrone will use his time in Rome to compose new works inspired by Italian architecture, art, and acoustics.