Yale Symphony Orchestra

Among the top U.S. student ensembles, the Yale Symphony Orchestra tours internationally and attracts world-class soloists. The group is composed mainly of undergraduates. The Yale Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1966. The ensemble was called the Yale Symphonic Society at first, but campus usage soon shifted to Yale Symphony Orchestra, and the name was officially adopted in 1967. The group's first permanent conductor was Richmond Brown, who led the orchestra during the 1967-1968 school year. The conductor since 2019 has been William Boughton. Guest artists have been a prestigious group that includes soprano Frederica Von Stade and pianist Emanuel Ax. The group has given important premieres, including the European premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass. The Yale Symphony Orchestra backed pianist Idil Biret on a 2013 recording of Hindemith's complete piano concertos, and in 2024, it was heard on the album Paul Reale: American Mosaic.