From Westminster Abbey to Yale

May 2, 2023

James O’Donnell has come to New Haven so he can stay connected to the world. In January, he joined the faculties of both the Yale School of Music and the Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) after spending more than 20 years as the director of music at Westminster Abbey. One of his last duties in that role was leading the music for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which was likely witnessed by billions of people around the world. And while moments of that magnitude are rare, he expects his time at Yale will be no less connected to the culture at large.