Admissions

General Information and Requirements

Students who wish to apply to the Institute of Sacred Music must submit the online application found at www.yale.edu/ism/apply. That application also serves as an application to the relevant professional school for the program selected. Students who wish to apply to the School of Music or the Divinity School for consideration there independently of their Institute application must also fill out the application of that school.

Online applications are to be submitted, and all supporting materials are to be sent directly to the Institute of Sacred Music, to arrive no later than:

• December 1 for students applying to the Institute of Sacred Music jointly with Yale School of Music; and
  
  
• February 1 for students applying to the Institute of Sacred Music jointly with Yale Divinity School.

The Institute’s Admissions Committee will consider applications for all degree programs, invite music applicants for auditions and interviews, and then make its recommendations to the appropriate admissions committee of either the School of Music or the Divinity School. Letters of joint acceptance will be sent to successful candidates on or around April 1. There is no early decision process, nor is there a summer program. For Divinity applicants, there is a priority application deadline of January 15, which carries a reduced application fee. Divinity School degrees may be completed on a part-time basis by special request. School of Music students must be enrolled full-time and in consecutive years.

Letters of recommendation and transcripts will be kept on file for one year. Students who are not admitted may reapply the following year without resubmitting these materials, although they may send new ones if they choose. All other application materials and the application fee must be submitted, as for first-time applicants, by the deadline.

Institute of Sacred Music/School of Music Application Requirements

The Institute admits outstanding choral conductors, organists, and singers to its music programs based on the application and auditions. Composers interested in applying to the Institute should indicate their interest on the School of Music application. Applicants who wish to be considered for programs in the School of Music independently of their Institute application, or who wish to apply to more than one Institute program, must submit separate applications and separate application fees.

The following materials must be received by December 1:

1. Completed online application with nonrefundable application fee of $100 (U.S.) payable to Yale University. This fee must be submitted with the application and cannot be waived.
   
   
2. Official transcripts of all academic records sent in a sealed envelope from all colleges and universities attended.
   
   
3. Curriculum vitae (a résumé of academic, performance, and employment information). Optional: examples of involvement in liturgical, musical, or artistic activities (orders of worship, prayers, hymn texts or tunes, sermons, special events, etc.).
   
   
4. Repertory list of major performance area.
   
   
5. Audition recording (see recording guidelines below).
   
   
6. A writing sample, such as a term paper, thesis, course paper, etc.
   
   
7. A short essay (500–1,000 words) relating your goals to the mission of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The essay might discuss
   • the sacred in music;
   • your sense of vocation;
   • your interest in interdisciplinary study.
   
   
8. Self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of recordings and scores.
   
   
9. Three letters of recommendation.
   
   
10. Official scores from GRE (for M.M.A. applicants) and TOEFL, if applicable (see test guidelines below).

Note: All supporting application materials should be mailed in one envelope.

Recording Guidelines

An audition recording (CD, DVD) is required of music candidates. Recordings should be labeled with the applicant’s name, instrument or voice type, and works performed. A recent recital recording may be submitted if the program falls roughly within the repertory guidelines.

Organ

Representative works from the major areas of organ literature—a major Bach work, a Romantic work, and a contemporary work.

Choral Conducting

Applicants must submit a videotape up to fifteen minutes in length showing the conducting of both rehearsal and performance.

Voice: Early Music, Oratorio, and Chamber Ensemble

Repertoire for the audition recording should include seven selections from the oratorio and art song repertoire of contrasting style and language. Selections can be chosen from any period and include opera arias or contemporary compositions. At least three selections should be from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In your selections, highlight your versatility as a performer.

Applicants should submit two copies of their audition CD. Each CD case should include the following information in type: applicant’s name, voice type, age, repertoire listing, and current school (if applicable). Please include a repertoire listing on the cases only, and label each CD with applicant’s name and voice type.

Institute of Sacred Music/Divinity School Application Requirements

For degrees in Yale Divinity School, the Institute admits students who seek a theological education with emphasis on liturgical studies or religion and the arts, as well as M.Div. candidates for ordination who desire interaction with practicing church musicians as part of their education.

Applicants admitted to the ISM who are pursuing an M.A.R., M.Div., or S.T.M. degree are fully enrolled students in the Divinity School as well. Students who wish also to be considered for enrollment in the Divinity School alone (should they not be accepted to the ISM) must fill out a separate Divinity School application by the deadline and pay a separate application fee.

The following materials must be received by February 1 (January 15 priority deadline):

1. Completed online application with nonrefundable application fee of $75 (U.S.) by January 15 or $100 by February 1, payable to Yale University. This fee must be submitted with the application and cannot be waived.
   
   
2. Official transcripts from each college or university attended, each in a sealed envelope, from the registrar or designated school records official.
   
   
3. A personal statement not to exceed 700 words explaining reasons for your interest in theological study at the Institute and the Divinity School. Include your preparation for or interest in the academic programs in liturgical studies, in religion and the arts, or in preaching, and/or interest in and preparation for the ministry in common formation with musicians.
   
   
4. A writing sample of 5–6 pages representing the best of your academic writing and thinking. A portion of a senior thesis or term paper is acceptable.
   
   
5. Three letters of recommendation.
   
   
6. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if English is not your first language (see below for details).
   
   
7. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (optional; recommended for those considering an eventual Ph.D.).

Note: All supporting application materials should be mailed in one envelope.

Audition/Interview

School of Music Applicants

Applicants are chosen for formal audition on the basis of the performance recording, scores, and application credentials. If selected for audition, applicants will be informed as soon as possible of the time and place to appear before an auditions committee. Auditions are held in New Haven as follows:

• for organ on February 28–March 2, 2008;
  
  
• for choral conducting on March 3, 2008;
  
  
• for voice on February 27, 2008;
  
  
• for all M.M.A. applicants on March 1 and 2, 2008 (both days required).

M.M.A. applicants will be expected to audition and take a written examination.

Organ applicants are strongly encouraged, though not required, to perform different works from those on the application recording. However, works should be chosen from the same three categories (see above). Applicants will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability and other essential musical skills.

Choral conducting applicants will be expected to present a highly developed level of comprehensive musicianship, including theory, transposition, keyboard skill, and score reading. Individual conducting assignments for the live audition will be made in the letter of invitation to audition.

Voice applicants may perform the same or different works from the audition recording. However, works should be chosen from the same repertorial categories (see above). Applicants will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability and other essential musical skills.

Composition applicants must come for personal interviews with the Institute’s Admissions Committee and the School of Music composition faculty.

Divinity School Applicants

Divinity School applicants are not required to appear for an interview. Decisions made by the admissions committees of the Institute and the Divinity School are based on the application and supporting materials. Applicants are welcome to visit the Institute and the Divinity School campus at any time. Special open house events for prospective students are held during the academic year. Applicants are encouraged to attend one of these events, which offer the opportunity to attend classes, tour the campus, and talk with faculty, staff, and current students.

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is required of all applicants to the Master of Musical Arts program who hold a master’s degree from a school other than Yale. The computer-based General Test is given regularly at testing centers around the world. Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for more information: www.gre.org, or call 609.771.7670, or write to PO Box 6154, Princeton NJ 08541-6154. Please use institution code #7072. Failure to use this code may result in lost scores.

All applicants in the composition department, regardless of the degree sought, must also take the GRE General test.

Those applying jointly to the Institute and the Divinity School may optionally submit GRE scores to support their application.

Note: Candidates who have not submitted the required test scores will not be considered for admission.

Tests of English for Speakers of Other Languages

Students for whom English is a second language must demonstrate a level of language proficiency appropriate for study. Applicants to the School of Music through the Institute should arrange to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of the Educational Testing Service. More information and applications are available at www.toefl.org, or call 609.771.7670, or write to PO Box 6154, Princeton NJ 08541-6154. Please use institution code #7072. Failure to use this code may result in lost scores. The Institute expects students to achieve a score of 600 (or 250 for the computer-based examination and 100 for the Internet-based examination) on the TOEFL.

Applicants to Yale Divinity School programs through the Institute must show evidence of proficiency in the English language either by attaining a satisfactory score on the International English Language Testing System or by having received a degree from an accredited university or college where English is the language of instruction. For information, contact IELTS Inc., 100 East Carson St., Suite 200, Pasadena CA 91103; telephone, 626.564.2954; fax, 626.564.2981; e-mail, ielts@cell.org; Web site, www.ielts.org.

Applicants are urged to submit all required materials as soon as possible. Applicants should check periodically to be certain that requested credentials have arrived at the Institute’s Office of Admissions. All inquiries should be directed to the Office of Admissions, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511-2167.

International Students

In order to gain admission to the Institute and to obtain a visa, international students must show that they have sufficient funds to provide for their expenses while in residence as a student in the United States. Bank affidavits and certificates of finance will be required.

Transfer Applicants

Internal

Students currently enrolled at the Divinity School or the School of Music who wish to apply for transfer to the Institute of Sacred Music should submit the following:

1. Completed online application form. The application fee is waived.
   
   
2. Official transcripts of academic records from all colleges and universities attended, including most recent Yale transcript. Unofficial copies may be obtained from current school registrars at student’s request.
   
   
3. Copies of all letters of recommendation from student’s file. Copies may be obtained from current school registrar.
   
   
4. Two letters of recommendation from current faculty, at least one from Institute faculty.
   
   
5. An essay to include a discussion of reasons for pursuing graduate study at the Institute of Sacred Music, comments on specific areas of interest for study, an indication of your sense of vocation, and areas of greatest importance as you consider your future career in relation to the Church. The essay is not to exceed one page.
   
   
6. Official scores from GRE or TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable; see above for details).

External

Students enrolled at other colleges or universities who wish to transfer to the Institute of Sacred Music should speak to the Institute’s Office of Admissions regarding their particular circumstances.

Expenses and Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees

ISM provides full tuition scholarships for all admitted students. The amount is based on tuition established by the two affiliated schools. In 2007–2008, tuition for full-time students enrolled at the School of Music through the Institute will be $25,750. Tuition for full-time students enrolled at the Divinity School through the Institute will be $18,400. Other special fees may be assessed, depending on program (orientation, commencement, board, and activity fees, etc.). Total estimated expenses for a single student are $37,900 for Music and $36,487 for Divinity. Estimated totals for different categories of students may include housing, meals, books, health care, major medical insurance, child care, and other miscellaneous costs. Further information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Assistance

In addition to the full tuition scholarships all ISM students receive, awards are given to a small number of students selected by the faculty. Depending on the resources of the Institute, these scholarships and awards are renewable for students who remain in good academic standing. These scholarships and awards require no application or service to the Institute.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may also apply for federal loans and work-study, which are awarded on the basis of need as determined by federal methodology. The Institute of Sacred Music participates in the Federal Stafford Loan program, both subsidized and unsubsidized. U.S. citizens or permanent residents who wish to be considered for a Federal Stafford Loan and/or Work Study must complete and submit the following:

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please use federal code 001426.
   
   
2. Signed 2006 Federal Tax Return and W-2 form(s).
   
   
3. 2006–2007 Verification Worksheet for Independent Student: http://ifap.ed.gov/vgworksheets/attachments/0607VerWkshtIndepend.pdf.

The FAFSA may require a few weeks to be processed; therefore, applicants are advised to complete their tax returns as soon as they receive their W-2 forms so that they can use them to complete the FAFSA on the Internet. Late receipt of the required financial information may jeopardize the timely processing of the applicant’s loan. All required materials must reach the Institute by April 1.

An application must be made each year to renew the Stafford Loan. Laws governing these loans are under frequent review by the U.S. Congress. Applicants should be aware that awards might need to be revised if major change is mandated by government regulations.

Federal eligibility may also be reviewed during the academic year if a student’s financial circumstances change substantially; additional scholarship or award support from the ISM is not available. Students must notify the Financial Aid Office of all additional awards or sources of support, such as that received from denominational agencies, outside grants and scholarships, and parental contributions.

Financial Aid for International Students

International students also receive full tuition scholarship awards and may be eligible for awards through the Institute of Sacred Music. No application is needed, nor is service to the University required to receive the scholarship or award. International students are not eligible to participate in U.S. government-funded loan programs unless they are permanent residents; therefore, every effort should be made to obtain financial assistance from the applicant’s government. Such assistance should be reported to the Institute’s Financial Aid Office. The Institute cannot subsidize transportation to and from the United States. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Employment

Qualified students have the opportunity to audition for paid positions in Marquand Chapel at the Divinity School as chapel organists, chapel ministers, and section leaders in the chapel choir. A paid position as assistant choral conductor for the chapel choir is awarded to a choral conducting major. Other paid positions are available as organists, conductors, and singers both at Berkeley Episcopal Divinity School and at Battell Chapel. Part-time positions abound in the libraries, dining halls, and the various offices of the University.

Institute students are encouraged to seek part-time employment in the ministry of churches in the New Haven area. Such work might include roles as organist and/or choir director, assistant for Christian education or youth work, pastoral assistant, or coordinator of arts programs in a church or the community. Institute and Divinity School placement personnel assist in locating such positions. Students generally work between ten and fifteen hours a week and are paid a salary commensurate with their experience and responsibilities.

Named Scholarships

The named scholarships are part of the Institute’s pool of resources. They honor students of exceptional promise and achievement in their field of study. The overall amount of the named scholar’s financial assistance is not affected. The Porter, MacLean, and Seder scholarships had their beginnings at the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary and were transferred to the Institute of Sacred Music upon its move to Yale University.

The Mary Baker Scholarship. The Mary Baker Scholarship in organ accompanying was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Mary Baker, wife of Dr. Robert Baker, founding dirrector of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The scholarship is awarded each year to a returning organ student who has demonstrated in the opinion of the faculty the ability and collaborative spirit necessary for a skilled organ accompanist.

The Robert Baker Scholarship. Robert Baker is the former director and dean of the School of Sacred Music at Union and the first director of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. This scholarship is for an organ student completing his or her first year. The scholarship was established at Dr. Baker’s retirement.

The Reverend Louise H. MacLean Scholarship. An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Louise H. MacLean was a graduate of Union Seminary who admired the work of the School of Sacred Music at that institution. The scholarship is to be used for the benefit of worthy students.

The Menil Scholarship. A scholarship designated for a student concentrating in the visual arts. Monies are given by the Menil Foundation.

The Hugh Porter Scholarship. Director (1945–60), Union Seminary School of Sacred Music, Hugh Porter was a distinguished organ recitalist and organist at St. Nicholas Collegiate Church in New York and a highly respected teacher. This scholarship is undesignated.

The E. Stanley Seder Scholarship. Organist and choir director at People’s Church in Chicago, E. Stanley Seder also served as organist of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, which met in Orchestra Hall. This scholarship is undesignated.

Special Awards for Music Students

The named awards will be given to first-year music students in addition to the usual scholarship awards, and will be renewable for a second year if progress is satisfactory.

The Baker Award. Named in honor of Professor Emeritus Robert Baker, the award is given to one or more students deemed to be among the top 1 or 2 percent of the young organists in the country and who have elected to study at the Yale School of Music through the Institute of Sacred Music.

The French Award. The award, named in honor of Professor Richard French, is given to one or more choral conducting students, deemed among the best in the country, who attend the Yale School of Music through the Institute of Sacred Music.

Fifth Semester for Church Music Certificate Course

Participants enroll as non-degree students for the fifth semester at the Yale Divinity School and receive a full-tuition scholarship. However, they are not eligible for Stafford or Graduate PLUS loans. They are eligible for alternative loans. Nondegree students are not eligible for deferral of loans. International students may need to apply for an extension of their student visas.

Special Awards for Divinity Students

Special faculty-awarded awards are also available for Divinity students. The Institute is especially interested in students who demonstrate a lively interest in cross-disciplinary interaction and study.

Special Support for Students

The Institute of Sacred Music may provide limited financial support in the form of grants for student participation in competitions, professional events, summer language study, and Colloquium presentation expenses. All requests must be made in advance, using the ISM Student Grant Request form, and approved by the faculty and director of the Institute. Guidelines for support may be obtained from the financial aid officer.

The Institute also underwrites the Yale Schola Cantorum, whose members receive payment for participation except if receiving academic credit for participation. (See Performing Ensembles).

Student Accounts and Bills

Student accounts, billing, and related services are administered through the Office of Student Financial Services, which is located at 246 Church Street. The telephone number is 203.432.2700.

Bills

Yale University’s official means of communicating monthly financial account statements is electronically through the University’s Internet-based system for electronic billing and payment, Yale University eBill-ePay.

Student account statements are prepared and made available twelve times a year at the beginning of each month. Payment is due in full by 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the first business day of the following month. E-mail notifications that the account statement is available on the University eBill-ePay Web site (www.yale.edu/sis/ebep) are sent to all students who have activated their official Yale e-mail accounts and to all student-designated authorized payers. It is imperative that all students activate and monitor their Yale e-mail accounts on an ongoing basis.

Bills for tuition, room, and board are available to the student during the first week of July, due and payable by August 1 for the fall term; and during the first week of November, due and payable by December 1 for the spring term. The Office of Student Financial Services will impose a late charge if any part of the term bill, less Yale-administered loans and scholarships that have been applied for on a timely basis, is not paid when due. The late charge will be imposed as follows:

Nonpayment of bills and failure to complete and submit financial aid application packages on a timely basis may result in the student’s involuntary withdrawal from the University.

No degrees will be conferred and no transcripts will be furnished until all bills due the University are paid in full. In addition, transcripts will not be furnished to any student or former student who is in default on the payment of a student loan.

The University may withhold registration and certain University privileges from students who have not paid their term bills or made satisfactory payment arrangements by the day of registration. To avoid delay at registration, students must ensure that payments reach Student Financial Services by the due dates.

Charge for Rejected Payments

A processing charge of $25 will be assessed for payments rejected for any reason by the bank on which they were drawn. In addition, the following penalties may apply if a payment is rejected:

1. If the payment was for a term bill, a $110 late fee will be charged for the period the bill was unpaid.
   
   
2. If the payment was for a term bill to permit registration, the student’s registration may be revoked.
   
   
3. If the payment was given to settle an unpaid balance in order to receive a diploma, the University may refer the account to an attorney for collection.
   

Yale University eBill-ePay

There are a variety of options offered for making payments. Yale University eBill-ePay is the preferred means for payment of bills. It can be found at www.yale.edu/sis/ebep. Electronic payments are easy and convenient—no checks to write, no stamps, no envelopes, no hassle. Payments are immediately posted to the student’s account. There is no charge to use this service. Bank information is password protected and secure, and there is a printable confirmation receipt. Payments can be made twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, up to 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the due date to avoid late fees. (The eBill-ePay system will not be available when the system is undergoing upgrade, maintenance, or repair.) Students can authorize up to three authorized payers to make payments electronically from their own computers to the student’s account using Yale’s system.

Use of the student’s own bank payment service is not authorized by the University because it has no direct link to the student’s Yale account. Payments made through such services arrive without proper account identification and always require manual processing that results in delayed crediting of the student’s account, late fees, and anxiety. Students should use Yale eBill-ePay to pay online. For those who choose to pay by check, a remittance advice with mailing instructions is available on the Web site.

Yale Payment Plan

The Yale Payment Plan is a payment service that allows students and their families to pay tuition, room, and board in ten equal monthly installments throughout the year based on individual family budget requirements. It is administered by the University’s Office of Student Financial Services. The fee to cover administration of the plan is $100. The deadline for enrollment is June 20. For additional information, please contact Student Financial Services at 203.432.2700 and select “Press 3” from the Main Menu. The enrollment form can be found online in the Yale Payment Plan section of the Student Accounts Web site: www.yale.edu/sfas/financial/accounts.html#payment.

Yale Charge Account Plan

Students who enroll in the Yale Charge Account Plan will be able to charge designated optional items and services to their student accounts, including toll calls made through the University’s telephone system. To enroll online, go to www.yale.edu/sis. Select the Login option; after logging in, select “Billing and Student Accounts,” then “Charge Account Authorization.”

The University may withdraw this privilege from students who do not pay their monthly bills on a timely basis. For information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at sfs@yale.edu, tel. 203.432.2700, fax 203.432.7557.

Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy

For the policies and deadlines regarding tuition rebates and refunds, Institute students should consult the bulletin of the school, Music or Divinity, in which they are enrolled.

Next: General Information