<p>My son is a junior at a Philadelpha suburban Quaker school. His extracurricular life revolves around his cello, both through an outside of school orchestra, in which he is pricipal, and in chamber music, which is his passion. He is interested in Yale (and is academically qualified) but needs more info about all the music performance opportunities. I've read about YSO and some of the other residential college orchestras, such as Berkley and Saybrook. But some more personal reflections and insights would be helpful. By the way, we have been told that he would most likely study with a grad student.</p>
<p>Cellomom,</p>
<p>Yale has an abundance of musical opportunities and a particularly strong cello faculty (Aldo Parisot and Ole Akahoshi). Akahoshi generally takes on 2-4 new undergrad students a year depending the number of students who have graduated the previous year. The occasional exceptional undergraduate cellist is invited to join the Yale Cellos, a world renown ensemble directed by Parisot of primarily School of Music cellists. Depending on the results of the audition and theory placement, private lessons can either be taken for credit at no expense or for a relatively small fee per semester of (I think) 12, 1 hour lessons for $400. There are many chamber music opportunities: for credit (MUS 222, etc. -- check out the course catalog) or for fun (there is a chamber music society that has an email list you can sign up for at the beginning of the year so you can pair up with other interested players). Most often people find they have too many possible ensembles to join. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>A very large number of students are involved with music at Yale, and all that I've talked to are extremely pleased with their situations there. Music facilities are abundant and millions of dollars are poured into funding special student music groups, chamber orchestras and the like. The undergraduate symphony frequently takes world tours of Asia, Africa and Europe, all expenses paid. During the academic year, several free concerts can be found on campus each day of the week.</p>
<p>In addition to taking music classes at the undergraduate level, which are open to everyone, he could study at the graduate school of music (either directly with a professor or with graduate students, depending on audition results). </p>
<p>He could also earn a Master of Music degree in addition to the Bachelor's if admitted, but the Master's degree is no guarantee, as Yale has not only the most selective undergraduate program in the country, but also the world's most selective music conservatory. </p>
<p>Undergraduates who are not talented enough to be sponsored for study directly with professors sometimes take private lessons with other instructors outside the music school, either in New York or Connecticut. Sometimes, Yale is so selective that students choose to study with professors at Juilliard on the side. But this does not concern most students, as most students admitted to Yale are either world-class, conservatory-bound to begin with (i.e., they have been performing as soloists since age 10), or they are playing music as a less serious pursuit (i.e., they are serious, but they don't intend to become world-class professionally performing musicians - they rather are interested in music teaching at the secondary education or college level, or they are playing music in addition to some other career).</p>