Premieres

In addition to performing the fundamental works that make up the classical canon, the YSO is exceptionally proud of its legacy as an advocate for premiering new works and obscure pieces in the catalogue of established composers.  We have given US and World premieres of works by Benjamin Britten, Claude Debussy, Leonard Bernstein, Richard Strauss, and Alexander Scriabin; debuted new editions and orchestrations of major works by Charles Ives and Robert Schumann, and premiered and commissioned new works by contemporary composers.  All of which makes up the fabric of an orchestra dedicated to promoting a living artistic medium while respecting its cherished history. 

It is our goal to have enough discretionary funding available to the YSO to allow us to perform and commission even more new music, and champion 20th- and 21st-century works that don’t get nearly the frequency of performances they deserve.  We hope that by introducing new music to the Yale undergraduate community, we can demystify contemporary works and keep classical music alive in the cultural mindset of future generations.