A Winter to Remember for the Yale Voxtet

It has been a busy winter season for members of the Yale Voxtet with performances in New York City and throughout Connecticut. Led by Professor Jimmy Taylor, the select group of eight singers who specialize in early music, oratorio, and chamber ensemble, have been engaged in a wide range of events from a celebration of Charles Ives’ music, to Latin Vespers, Bach, and French cabaret. 

“Generations of Music at Yale” at Carnegie Hall

On December 3, the second year Voxtet members participated in “Generations of Music at Yale” in New Haven, performing alongside pianist and Yale School of Music Dean José García-León, flutist Tara Helen O’Connor, violinist Tai Murray, clarinetist David Shifrin and the Callisto Quartet. The Voxtet performed pieces by Charles Ives, having previously celebrated “150 Years of Ives” at Yale with “Songs of Ives” directed by Professor James Taylor. The four members sang solo songs accompanied by collaborative pianist Tomoko Nakayama. They also sang lesser known a capella pieces for mixed quartet. The next day, the show went on the road to Carnegie Hall, a first for the Voxtet members. They were able to be a part of Yale’s return to Carnegie for the “Yale at Carnegie Hall” series. Two of the Voxtet members shared their thoughts about the occasion. 

Singing at Carnegie Hall was a dream come true. It felt really special to be part of a program celebrating Yale’s musical legacy, and the best part was getting to share the stage with some of my closest friends!

— Ellen Robertson M.M.A. ‘25

Personally, I really enjoyed performing alongside the faculty. It was a wonderful experience to see them behind the scenes. Seeing them just be “normal” people going through their mental checklists, making sure their iPad had enough charge, and just talking about things other than music like travel or teaching. They’re all experts at their craft and it’s good to see the other side and see them cheer for one another as they go on and off stage. I’m glad to make my premier on the small stage, and I hope I can return to the big stage!

— Fredy Bonilla M.M. ‘25 

Rejoicing greatly in Battell Chapel

While the second years were busy in New York, the first year Voxtet members were preparing their solos for the Yale Glee Club Messiah Singalong. Alongside student and faculty conductors, they spent the week preparing selections for Yale’s much-loved annual tradition, which was performed with the Yale Orchestra before an enthusiastic crowd in Battell Chapel on Sunday, December 8.

It was an amazing experience getting to work directly with my colleagues in the conducting department to create magic in our Messiah performance! I only wish we got to perform it more than once.

— Scottie Rogers M.M.A. ‘26

Yale Song Lab’s “New Works” concert

On December 11, Voxtet basses Fredy Bonilla and Matthew Dexter performed in Yale Song Lab’s concert of new works. They presented five new works together with mezzo sporano Eliana Barwinski M.A.R. ‘25, Yale Opera singers, YSM pianists, and Yale composers. The musicians were led by professors Adriana Zabala and Christopher Theofanidis as part of a course that combined collaboration, idea-sharing, listening to, and studying, modern song, and guest lectures by performers and composers including Dawn Upshaw, Kevin Puts, and Mark Campbell. 

Yale Song Lab provided us with the unique opportunity to actively participate in the creation of a new work. This experience greatly enhanced my ability to portray stories with my voice in a nuanced way, regardless of the subject.

— Matthew Dexter M.M. ‘26

Latin Vespers

On Saturday, December 14, the Yale Voxtet performed their biannual Latin Vespers service at Dwight Chapel. The concert was part of a course by Professor James Taylor studying chant, early polyphony, and Latin diction from different regions. The concert was directed by James Taylor and Susan Hellauer and offered plainchant Christmas Vespers according to the Liber Usualis (1963), along with motets from the Las Huelgas Codex (c. 1300) and from Josquin des Prez (c. 1450–1521). It was an uplifting, contemplative way to close the term and was well received by a standing-room-only audience. Watch here. 

The Vespers service was a very fulfilling way for me to end this 2024 semester. Susan was an excellent instructor with regard to the performing practices and programming. I enjoyed diving into the chant and look forward to singing more music of this style in the future. I also loved the full house of people who came to Dwight Chapel to see our performance, and it felt very fulfilling to get the hearty round of applause after all the work we put into making this concert happen.

— Trevor Scott M.M.A. ‘25

The Holiday Season Continues

The Voxtet closed out December with approximately fifty musical offerings throughout Connecticut and beyond. These included Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day services, and seasonal concerts, including some to ring in the new year.

It’s been a busy season. I did the Yale Messiah tenor solos early December, then in my church choir I sang the Bach Magnificat solo, duet, and chorus. I’ve sung two Messiahs in the chorus with the Philadelphia Orchestra with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Met Opera Director, who is incredible! I’ve got another Bach Magnificat on New Year’s Eve in New York City with Amor Artis with Eliana Barwinski. It’s really exciting to explore music that I’m so familiar with in new and exciting ways. Everyone has a different approach on how to present these stories in music in their attempts to show the love of the music and to be festive. It’s exciting to hear these perspectives and I’ve been enjoying it. 

— Sam Denler M.M. ‘26

2025 Performances

On January 25, under the baton of Stefan Parkman, the Voxtet joined Schola Cantorum and orchestra in a performance of French music in “Consolation and Confidence.” The Woolsey Hall concert featured Fauré’s Requiem along with works by Poulenc and Martin. First year Voxtet members Izzy Barbato M.M. ‘26 and Matthew Dexter M.M. ‘26 performed solos in the Fauré. Watch here.

On February 7, the Voxtet presented “Sous le ciel de Paris”, a delightful French-themed concert to members of the ISM community and their guests. The evening was led by Professor Jimmy Taylor and featured guest musician, Dan Chouinard, on the piano and accordion. Over the last few months, classes, concerts, and colloquia have had a French theme as the ISM students prepare to go to France in the spring for an international study tour, a biennial opportunity afforded to all students at the ISM.

Along with Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 and conducted by Masaaki Suzuki, the Voxtet performed Klagt, Kinder: Köthener Trauermusik in New York City’s Alice Tully Hall on February 21, and in New Haven’s Woolsey Hall on February 22. The repertoire included Bach’s Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 and his Köthener Trauermusik, BWV 1143.