YSC Session: In Between the Notes

Yale Schwarzman Center Sessions are peer-led gatherings where conversations generate collaborations and move ideas into action.

Music can be a source of entertainment, connection, and even therapy. How might different types and genres of music affect us? How do our cultural backgrounds influence our perception and response to music? How do we connect with others through music when performing or composing? Are there universal aspects of music’s impact on the body and mind, or is it subjective? Join Adam Christoferson, Seiyoung Kim, and Jonathan Weiss as they discuss these and other questions.

Adam Christoferson

Adam Christoferson's journey unfolds as a beacon for social change through Musical Intervention™, a transformative program amplifying the healing power of music. He pioneers this initiative, nurturing mental health and fostering community bonds. His dedication transcends borders, earning him a pivotal role as a keynote speaker and contributor at the European Conference on Mental Health and a platform at TEDx New Haven.

In his 20+ years of guiding music groups within clinical and community contexts, Adam's focus on leveraging song as a tool for mental wellness gained global recognition. However, his impact extends beyond accolades. Nestled in downtown New Haven and New York City, Musical Intervention's headquarters stands as a testament to his commitment to disadvantaged communities. This space serves as a refuge, offering structure and expression to those seeking recovery from substance abuse while reintegrating into society.

Moreover, Adam's initiative thrives on diversity, welcoming individuals from varied backgrounds, fostering a rich cultural exchange within a harmonious, inclusive environment. This melting pot becomes an opportunity for personal growth and communal understanding. The program's free access invites all, creating an ecosystem where music becomes the universal language uniting hearts and healing minds.

Supported by partnerships with Yale University and recent grants, including the Sound Health Initiative Grant (Belief, Learning and Memory Lab and Program for Recovery and Community Health), Musical Intervention continues its groundbreaking work. Through original music creation, the SING study underlines Adam's commitment to exploring music's profound impact on those grappling with auditory hallucinations. The New Haven headquarters, presently located at 23 Temple Street, remains a hub for anyone seeking solace, creativity, and holistic well-being for the past eight years.

Seiyoung Kim

Korean-born tenor Seiyoung Kim is a recent graduate of Yale School of Music. This season, Kim’s engagements include making his Houston Grand Opera debut originating the roles of Rat and Monkey in the world premiere of Meilina Tsui’s The Big Swim, making his debut at The Glimmerglass Festival performing Little Victor Farrell in Elizabeth Cree, participating in the workshop of Derek Bermel’s The House on Mango Street, and covering Pane and Natura in La Calisto, and making his Boston Lyric Opera debut in Boston Public Library’s Summer 2023 Concert in the Courtyard Series singing the aria of Don Ramiro from La Cenerentola.

In the 2022-2023 season at Yale, Kim performed the title role of Comte Ory in Le Comte Ory and sang in the Yale Opera Gala with the Yale Philharmonic as Count Almaviva from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In the 2021-2022 season at Yale, Kim sang the role of Oronte in Alcina, was featured in the Yale Opera Gala with the Yale Philharmonic as Lindoro from L’italiana in Algeri, Don Ottavio from Don Giovanni, Fenton from Falstaff, and Ernesto from Don Pasquale, and performed in the Yale Scenes Program as Comte Ory from Le Comte Ory, Fenton from Falstaff, and Brighella from Ariadne auf Naxos. Kim was also named a Connecticut district winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

In the 2020-2021 season, Kim was named a Tulsa district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Kim was invited by Korea National Opera to participate in their newly-launched masterclass series, which ended with a gala concert in Inchoon Art Hall. Kim was also invited by the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation to sing in their opera gala as Count Almaviva from Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Jonathan Weiss

Jonathan Weiss (YC '24) is a composer, sound designer, musicologist, and performer from Boston, Massachusetts. As a music major, he has studied under Kathryn Alexander, Nathan Roberts, Konrad Kaczmarek, and Jeanine Tesori. Weiss collaborates frequently with other musicians, including Jennifer Beattie, Anna Zhong, Room to Spare, Epongue Ekille, Jacob Miller, Charnice Hoegnifioh, and Noremi.

In 2020, Weiss won an ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award. His compositions have been performed at several venues including The Green Room 42, the Atlantic Music Festival, and a masterclass with Hilary Hahn. Engaging with his deep-seated interest in psychology, Weiss researches the potent influence of dreams on the creative processes of composers. He also recently composed the soundtrack for Jeffrey Steele’s senior thesis production of Black N Blue Boys / Broken Men, a show about the impacts of generational trauma on young men.

In addition, Weiss is passionate about connecting to young people with disabilities; he serves as his older brother Luke's music therapist and produces for the organization Hear Your Song. In 2023, Weiss was selected as an inaugural recipient of the Chauncey Fellowship, a program of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. After graduation, Weiss will use the Chauncey to volunteer in New Haven and finish orchestrating his musical about the medieval fairy Melusina and her disabled children.

Because seats are limited, registrants will be automatically placed on the waitlist and will be notified via email if they are selected to participate.