Yale College Summer Updates – June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Dear Class of 2029,

Yale College Arts writes this week with information about how to get involved with Yale's thriving arts scene, in or out of the classroom.
First, an update from the Office of Undergraduate Education:
Yale 101: Mapping Your Academic Journey is a series of short, interlinked videos designed to introduce you to a Yale education, and is available now through Canvas. All incoming first-years are expected to complete Yale 101 by the August 17 move-in date to explore “Building Your First Semester,” “Navigating Course Registration,” “Advising & Academic Support,” “Pre-arrival Requirements,” and more.

We are busy preparing for your arrival on campus and are very much looking forward to seeing you in August.

Sincerely,

Hannah Peck
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Yale College Dean's Office

June 18, 2025

Dear Class of 2029,

Greetings from Yale College Arts! As you prepare to arrive on campus and begin to consider the wide range of activities available to you, we would like to share an overview of Yale College Arts and how you can engage with the arts either through your academic work or extracurricular and cocurricular interests.

The Yale College arts community is a thriving one, with hundreds of opportunities to study and create art in a variety of disciplines. Whether you are a longtime creator with project ideas ready to launch or a newcomer to the arts scene eager to explore offerings across disciplines, the Yale College Arts team is ready to support and guide you. Whatever your interest in the arts, there is a place for you here.

Kate Krier
Associate Dean for the Arts in Yale College
Special Adviser, Schwarzman Center
Director of Production
Yale College

Daisy Abreu
Administrative Coordinator for the Arts
Yale College

Yale College Arts has something for everyone! It includes five faculty and staff-led units: Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM), Yale Bands, Yale Glee Club, Yale Symphony Orchestra, and Undergraduate Production (UP).

CCAM

The Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) is Yale’s interdisciplinary lab for arts research and innovation, equipped with a motion capture studio, exhibition gallery, and computer lab. Students exploring visual art, design, film, music and sound, performance, AI, and computer science are invited to develop and realize ambitious projects through CCAM programs.

Join us for an open house at CCAM (149 York Street) on Thursday, August 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Discover upcoming events, programs, and creative opportunities for students and the wider university community. The CCAM team will be on hand with interactive activities, giveaways, and project demos.

Want to stay connected? Subscribe to the CCAM newsletter (https://ccam.yale.edu/newsletter) for updates.

Yale Bands

The Yale Bands include the Yale Concert Band (MUSI 1190), an ensemble of 45-60 wind, brass, and percussion players; the Yale Jazz Ensembles (MUSI 1193), a traditional “big band” and two jazz combos; and the Yale Precision Marching Band, a fun group that celebrates Yale spirit at athletic contests and beyond. All the bands perform varied repertoires in venues both on campus and off throughout the academic year.

You are invited to attend the Yale Bands Information Meeting on Sunday, August 24, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in Room 301, Hendrie Hall, Adams Center for Musical Arts, 165 Elm Street. The session includes information about all the Yale Bands – Yale Concert Band and Yale Precision Marching Band (Thomas C. Duffy, Director) and Yale Jazz Ensemble Big Band and Combos (Wayne Escoffery, Director), a question-and-answer period, and the opportunity to sign up for auditions.

Auditions will take place in Room 301, and the third-floor classrooms in Hendrie Hall, Adams Center for Musical Arts on the following dates:

Yale Concert Band

Tuesday, August 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.;
Wednesday, August 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.;
Thursday, August 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Yale Jazz Ensembles Big Band and Combos

Tuesday, August 26, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Yale Precision Marching Band

Tuesday, August 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Learn more →

Yale Glee Club

The Yale Glee Club (MUSI 1191) is Yale’s principal undergraduate mixed chorus with members representing a wide range of majors and interests drawn together by a love of singing.
The Glee Club performs a broad spectrum of choral music from the 16th century to the present, and frequently premiers newly commissioned works. In addition to on-campus concerts, the Glee Club tours in the US and abroad.

You can attend an introductory meeting on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Room 201, Hendrie Hall, Adams Center for Musical Arts, to learn more about plans for the coming year and meet our director and returning members of the ensemble.
In-person auditions are Wednesday, August 27 through Sunday, August 31, 2025, and are open to all Yale students.

Learn more →

Yale Symphony Orchestra

The Yale Symphony Orchestra (MUSI 1192) is the largest orchestra in Yale College, with 80-90 accomplished musicians committed to developing the quality and experience of the ensemble during their years in the Orchestra. YSO programming seeks to cover works from the western canon while supporting American classical music and new works by emerging American composers. The YSO rehearses twice weekly and performs a minimum of six concerts per academic year, both on and off campus.

Auditions are Monday, August 25 from 9:30 am to 6:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, August 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Audition information and signups will be posted in July.

Learn more →

Music Lessons

Learn more about taking music lessons →

If you wish to apply for music lessons, submit a Music Lesson Application →

Auditions will be held during the first week of school for lessons. Applicants will be notified of audition procedures for their respective instruments in late August.

Undergraduate Production

Undergraduate Production, or UP, provides support and guidance to students in the planning, production, and presentation of undergraduate performing arts events.
UP provides training and technical support for comedy, dance, music, opera, spoken word, theater, and interdisciplinary performance genres. The Technical Directors are available to work with students on everything from large-scale theatrical projects to informal poetry slams.

You can subscribe to the UPWords newsletter for information about upcoming workshops and other production news.

Subscribe →

Looking to get involved in the student-run art scene?

There are over 200 student-run organizations devoted to making and exploring art, including dance, comedy, and singing. You can browse those organizations at the links below.

Dance →

Comedy →

Singing →

And more.

How can I keep up with the Arts in Yale College?

In addition to signing up for the newsletters listed above, here's where you can find information about arts events and opportunities:

The Yale College Arts website provides students with tools to advertise their productions, schedule and sign up for auditions, and recruit team members to their projects.

The Yale Arts Calendar is the most comprehensive listing of arts events happening across programs, disciplines, performance spaces, and galleries on campus.

The Yale College Arts weekly email, sent to all undergraduates, provides a sampling of arts events happening in the coming weekend. Here is a sample of the guest curator email.

You may sign up to serve as Guest Curator for a week in which you have a project you want to promote by writing to Daisy Abreu, Administrative Coordinator for the Arts at Yale College, for more information.

To whom can I send questions?

Daisy Abreu, Administrative Coordinator for the Arts in Yale College, is your lead contact and resource. You can reach her at daisy.abreu@yale.edu or 203-432-3742.