The early music vocal program is designed for singers who are interested in early music, oratorio, art song, contemporary music, and choral chamber ensembles. Early music voice students receive private voice lessons and intensive coachings in art song and oratorio literature, and they attend weekly seminars and voice classes in performance practices, diction, and interpretation. Singers also have opportunities to participate in master classes with renowned guest artists.

Early music voice students share classes in diction, movement, and vocal repertoire with opera students, but they attend the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) Colloquium on Wednesday afternoons with students in other ISM-affiliated programs. 

All early music singers perform with Yale’s vocal chamber ensemble, the Yale Schola Cantorum, which offers training in ensemble techniques. David Hill is the ensemble’s principal conductor, and Masaaki Suzuki is the principal guest conductor. The Schola Cantorum offers numerous performing opportunities to early music voice students, including solo roles in major works, as well as touring and recording projects that provide invaluable professional experience.

faculty spotlight

James Taylor
Professor in the Practice of Voice

James Taylor

Devoting much of his career to oratorio and concert literature, faculty tenor James Taylor has performed across the globe.
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Degrees + Programs

Master of Music

The two-year master of music (M.M.) degree program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any major.

Master of Musical Arts

The performance-oriented master of musical arts (M.M.A.) program is designed for students who want to further their education beyond an M.M. degree.

Doctor of Musical Arts

The intensive doctor of musical arts (D.M.A) program is comprised of a two-year residency followed by a three-year period in which candidates launch their professional careers.

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Perform at Yale
At the Yale School of Music, there are numerous opportunities to perform in the School’s historic concert halls and throughout New Haven.
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Having the opportunity to study at the YSM was a completely life changing experience.
Nola Richardson, soprano (early music), ’20DMA
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Students, Faculty + Alumni

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Jonah Ellsworth
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Meet tubist Vivian Kung, a first-year master’s degree candidate who’s studying with Prof. Carol Jantsch. We spoke with Vivian about her interests in music education, drum corps and the pageantry arts, and more.
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