Yale Symphony Orchestra, photo by Chris Randall
The Orchestra
The Yale Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is a faculty-led ensemble that rehearses twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00pm-6:30pm and gives 6 concerts per academic year, both on and off Campus. Its concerts are live-streamed to a global audience of approximately 7,000 people and a live audience in Woolsey Hall.
The Yale Symphony Orchestra (MUSI 1192) is the largest orchestra in Yale College, with 80-90 accomplished musicians committed to developing the quality and experience of the ensemble during their years in the orchestra.
The YSO uses tours to share its music and engage with communities around the world. Past tours have included Russia, UK, Turkey, and Austria.
The YSO’s programming is a combination of the western canon (Bach to Mahler), American heritage (Beach to Carter), and American contemporary music with invitations to living composers to visit the campus and work with the orchestra. The YSO has a proud history of presenting premiers and commissioning new music.
One of the highlights of the orchestra’s year, and a Yale tradition, is the Halloween concert held at midnight on October 31st each year to a Woolsey Hall audience of 2,500 people. The music and accompanying film are chosen and created by YSO players.
YSO Endowment Fund
Support the YSO international touring; free admission to YSO concerts in New Haven; commissioning and recording of American music; and masterclasses.
YSO Annual Fund
The Annual Fund supports and maintains operations while we fundraise endowed funds; our annual teambuilding retreat and a concert trip to New York.