Congratulations Class of 2024!

May 20, 2024

On Sunday, May 19, the Yale Institute of Sacred Music honored its twenty-two newest graduates at a commencement dinner held in the Old Refectory at Yale Divinity School.  Of the degrees awarded, five received the Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.), one the Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.), four the Master of Divinity (M.Div), seven the Master of Music (M.M.), four the Master of Musical Arts (M.M.A.), and one the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.). Graduates were joined by family and friends, as well as by ISM Director Martin Jean and numerous faculty and staff.  View the Commencement dinner slideshow. After certificates were presented, ISM faculty members announced this year’s prize and scholarship recipients, which are all are listed below.

On Monday, May 20, ISM students joined the university-wide commencement proceedings on Old Campus. View a slideshow here. ISM students affiliated with the Yale Divinity School also attended a separate ceremony in the Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, and those affiliated with the Yale School of Music attended a ceremony in Morse Recital Hall.

Warmest congratulations to all the graduates listed below!

2024 ISM Graduates

Luke Brennan, Master of Music

Joseph Ferguson, Master of Music

Madeleine Harris-Lerew, Master of Divinity

Lauren Hoagland, Master of Arts in Religion

Michaël Hudetz, Master of Musical Arts

Noah Klein, Master of Musical Arts

Maya Lewis, Master of Arts in Religion

Kai Yin Andrew Liu, Master of Music

Terrance McQueen, Master of Divinity

Collin Miller, Master of Musical Arts

Kathryn Muensterman, Master of Arts in Religion

Juliet Papadopoulos, Master of Music

William Parker, Master of Sacred Theology

Clara Poteet, Master of Arts in Religion

David Preston, Master of Music

Matthew Reese, Master of Divinity

Sarah Shapiro, Master of Music

Sandra Mansureh Sharis, Master of Musical Arts

Allyson Stapleton, Master of Arts in Religion

Alexander Straus-Fausto, Master of Music

Tommy Lee Watson Jr., Master of Divinity

Margaret Winchell, Doctor of Musical Arts

Recipients of 2024 Prizes and Scholarships

Robert Baker Scholarship

Named in honor of the former dean of the School of Sacred Music at Union and then first director of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, this scholarship is designated for an organ student completing the first year.

Jia Yu Anne Maria Lim

Hugh Porter Scholarship

This scholarship is named for a former Director of the Union Seminary School of Sacred Music, a distinguished organ recitalist, church organist, and a highly respected teacher.

Augie Segger, Mahima Kumara

Louise E. MacLean Scholarship

An ordained minister of the UCC, Mrs. MacLean was a graduate of Union Seminary who admired the work of the School of Sacred Music at that institution.  The scholarship is “to be used for the benefit of worthy students.”

Emily Chan, Nora Heimann

Mary Baker Scholarship in Organ Accompanying

Established in 2005 to honor the memory of Mary Baker, wife of Dr. Robert Baker, founding director of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Awarded each year to a returning organ student who has demonstrated in the opinion of the faculty the ability and collaborative spirit necessary for a skilled organ accompanist.

Christopher Oak Martin

The Dominique de Menil Scholarship

A scholarship designated for an MAR candidate concentrating in the visual arts.

Nathaly Pérez

Edwin Stanley Seder Scholarship

Awarded in honor of the noted organist and choir director at People’s Church in Chicago. 

Nathan Peace, Jane Ellen Robertson

Hugh Porter Prize

Awarded in honor of a former Director of the Union Seminary School of Sacred Music, and distinguished organ recitalist and organist. 

Lauren Hoaglund

Edwin Stanley Seder Prize

Awarded by the faculty in honor of the great Chicago organist and choir director.

Matthew Reese, Tommy Lee Watson Jr.

Aidan Kavanagh Achievement Prize

Awarded to a student in recognition of distinguished intellectual achievement at Yale University. Aidan Kavanagh was Professor of Liturgics at the Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music from 1974 until his retirement in 1994.  During that time, he was Acting Director of the Institute on two occasions. 

Allyson Stapleton

Richard Paul DeLong Prize

Awarded to the student or students whose work best exemplifies the dedication and the use of those special gifts required of practicing church musicians 

Sarah Shapiro

Liturgical Studies Prize

Given to the Institute student or students submitting the best paper utilizing historical method in studying a liturgical subject.

Maya Lewis

Hugh Giles Prize

Continues a tradition started in 1964 at the School of Sacred Music at Union Seminary in honor of this distinguished graduate.  It is awarded to the student or students who has most clearly demonstrated interest, perseverance, and achievement during the first year of study. 

Alex Whittington

John W. Cook Prize in Religion and the Arts

Awarded to a graduating student whose work has excelled at the intersections of religion and the arts.

Terrance McQueen

Margot Fassler Prize in the Performance of Sacred Music

Awarded to an Institute student pursuing a music degree who has shown excellence in the performance of sacred music.

Sandra Mansureh Sharis, Michaël Hudetz

Director’s Prize

Awarded to the Institute of Sacred Music student or students who, in the opinion of the faculty, give the best Colloquium presentation. 

Clara Poteet, Michaël Hudetz, Mengfei Xu

Students’ Choice for Best Colloquium Presentation

Awarded to the Institute student or students who, in the opinion of the students, gave the best Colloquium presentation.

Clara Poteet, Michaël Hudetz, Margaret Winchell

ISM Student Community Award

Awarded to a student by students who, beyond academics, worked to build positive community within the ISM.

Margaret Winchell

Faculty Prize

Awarded to those students whose work, in the opinion of the Faculty, is of a quality that best exemplifies the purpose and mission of the Institute.

Margaret Winchell

 

Photos: Amanda Patrick