Congratulations Class of 2024!

Tuesday, May 21, 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. After certificates were presented, ISM faculty members announced this year’s prize and scholarship recipients, which are all are listed below. Photos coming soon!

On Monday, May 20, ISM students joined the university-wide commencement proceedings on Old Campus. 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.

  • Luke Brennan, Master of Music
  • Joseph Ferguson, Master of Music
  • Madeleine Harris, 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

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

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

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
 

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

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

Nathaly Pérez

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

Nathan Peace, Jane Ellen Robertson

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

Lauren Hoaglund

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

Matthew Reese, Tommy Lee Watson Jr.

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

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

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

Maya Lewis

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

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

Terrance McQueen

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

Sandra Mansureh Sharis, Michaël Hudetz

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

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

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

Margaret Winchell

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 of 2024 Commencement

Photos of the Commencement Dinner