FALL 2009

Museum Closed for Renovation until 18 October

The Collection was closed during the summer for renovations in the basement storage area and second floor gallery.  These projects have taken longer than expected with the result that the Collection will remain closed to the public until the first concert on this season's series, which will take place on Sunday, 18 October, at 3:00 pm. Please visit this page frequently for updates.

The basement project includes a thorough cleaning and painting of the area, improved lighting and air handling, and the installation of state-of-the art storage cabinets and racks.  The renovation will significantly upgrade the storage conditions from the all-important perspective of conservation and will greatly enhance accessibility to the collection by staff and visiting scholars.  The second floor gallery is being repainted.I

William Purvis to continue as Interim Diector

Robert Blocker, Dean of the Yale School of Music, was pleased to announce at the spring meeting of the Collection's Board of Advisors that William Purvis had agreed to an extension of his appointment as Interim Director of the Collection.  Mr. Purvis is on the faculty of the School of Music, teaching horn and chamber music, and he is Coordinator of Brass and Woodwinds. During his first season at the helm of the Collection, he has worked with the museum's staff on several initiatives focused on increased integration of the Collection's activties with the musical life of the University. 

Conservators Named

Interim Director William Purvis is pleased to announce that two eminent instrument makers have accepted invitations to serve as consultant Conservators to the Collection. 

ANDREW DIPPER, Vice-president of Claire Givens Violins (Minnea-polis) will serve as consultant Conservator of string instruments. A renowned luthier and scholar, Mr. Dipper has performed restoration and conservation work for many of the world's foremost public and private musical instrument collections, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York; the Federal Musical Instrument Museum of Berlin; the Shrine to Music Museum in South Dakota; and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

RODNEY REGIER, of Freeport, Maine, will serve as consultant Curator of pianos.  Mr. Regier has completed three extensive restorations of pianos in the Yale Collection and delivered a new fortepiano of his own make to the Yale School of Music last season.  His instruments based on late 18th- and early 19th-century models are used by eminent pianists around the world and by institutions including the University of California, Harvard University, Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory, the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), Stanford University, and many others.

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