Nicholas McGegan to conduct Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 in performances of Handel's Jephtha

Join us for an extraordinary musical event as guest conductor Nicholas McGegan leads Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 in a performance of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Jephtha” (HWV 70). There are two opportunities to hear the concert—the first at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York on Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. and the second in Yale’s Woolsey Hall in New Haven on Sunday, November 9 at 4 p.m. Based on the Old Testament story of Jephtha (Judges Chapter 11), this final oratorio by Handel tells the poignant tale of Jephtha’s rash promise to God and the dramatic consequences that follow. Don’t miss this chance to experience an unforgettable musical journey through Handel’s masterful interpretation of this timeless story.

The New York Times has said of Nicholas McGegan that “when it comes to conveying the vital spark in Handel’s music, Mr. McGegan has few peers”; and The Independent has described him as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation.” Read more about Nicholas McGegan. 

Yale Schola Cantorum is the Yale Institute of Music’s renowned chamber choir that specializes in sacred music from the sixteenth century to the present day, performing in concert settings and choral services worldwide. The ensemble is led by interim conductor Stefan Parkman (and new principal conductor, Grete Pedersen, from Jan. 1, 2026), with Masaaki Suzuki as the principal guest conductor. The choir emphasizes historically informed performance practice and frequently collaborates with instrumentalists from Juilliard415. 

Founded in 2009, Juilliard415 is Juilliard’s principal period instrument ensemble, contributing significantly to the early music scene. In collaboration with major figures in early music, the ensemble performs both rare and well-known works by seventeenth- and eighteenth-century composers. The two choirs regularly tour together; past tours have been to Scandinavia, Italy, Japan, Southeast Asia, the U.K., and India, and the 2026 tour will be to Northern Italy. 

Tickets for the Nov. 8 New York City concert can be purchased here. The Sunday, Nov. 9 concert in Woolsey Hall is free and open to the public and can also be viewed via livestream. View details here. 

For more information, please email Jeff Hazewinkel.