Schwarzman Center Announces Bold and Diverse Spring Season Blending Acclaimed Star Power with Student and Alumni Performances

12.19.22
Maurice L. Harris

Yale Schwarzman Center (YSC) announces its most robust spring season to date, a wide-ranging lineup of new and traditional music, dance, conversations, and theatrical events for Yale’s spring 2023 semester, which begins in January 2023. With a mix of student talent and acclaimed artists, YSC offers an ambitious slate of programming that will wow, engage, and move audiences while also strengthen ties between Yale and New Haven, and build bridges between education and entertainment. The spring events are free and open to the public. For detailed schedule and registration information, please visit https://schwarzman.yale.edu/events/upcoming 

“We’re overjoyed to launch 2023 with our first-ever full spring season, which delivers on the promise of YSC as an integrated center for the performing arts and culture,” said Rachel Fine, YSC new executive director. “At long last, we’ll bring together both national and international headliners, Yale students and faculty, and the New Haven community at-large for a much-anticipated celebration of thought-provoking and inspiring cultural offerings that activate all of the Center’s new and renovated spaces.” 

YSC kicks off the New Year with Dancing about Architecture: A Common Conversation featuring Yale School of Architecture Dean Deborah Berke and architect and designer David Rockwell. On January 19, this conversation will take place in the iconic Commons and will focus on the role the arts and architecture play in community and place-making.  

On February 4, YSC premieres GRAMMY-nominated Seven Pillars by Andy Akiho ‘11MM, which features theatrical performances by Yale alumni Sandbox Percussion and lighting by Michael McQuilken. Hailed by The New York Times as “a lush, brooding celebration of noise,” the work is structured as a large-scale palindrome and consists of seven ensemble movements, as well as one solo movement for each member of Sandbox.  

On February 18, YSC, Yale Dance Lab, and Yale Symphony Orchestra bring a rich collaboration of music and dance to Commons in two performances of Igor Stravinsky’s 1913 Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring). Choreographed by Emily Coates and Lacina Coulibaly, faculty members in Theater, Dance and Performance Studies, and featuring a special ensemble of dancers gathered from across the university. Maestro William Boughton conducts. 

Hailed as a “daring triumph” by Pitchfork, on May 5 the Dream House Quartet -- founded  by Bryce Dessner, the twin phenom Labèque Sisters, and David Chalmin -- performs radical new commissions from visionary composers and pivotal contemporary works of the last half century for two pianos and two guitars. This U.S. premiere tour includes new works by Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Hildur Guðnadóttir (Oscar winner for Best Score for Joker), Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Philip Glass, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, Steve Reich, Caroline Shaw, Timo Andres and David Chalmin.  

Other popular YSC programs will also take place throughout the spring semester, including: 

  • YSC Sessions – topical gatherings where lunchtime conversations generate collaborations and move ideas to action. Each group of Sessionists include Yale students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader New Haven community.  

  • Storyboard: Virtual Exhibitions - opportunities to experience thought-provoking student works via the Web. Log in to the online gallery explore music, film, photography, poetry, dance, and other genres of multimedia.  

  • Creative & Performing Arts (CPA) Projects - performances and exhibitions by undergraduates selected through the CPA Awards process. Open to the public, CPA Projects celebrate student’s experimentation and creative expression by offering opportunities to present their works, with support from Yale’s arts professionals, in select venues in YSC and across the University. 

For up-to-date information, visit https://schwarzman.yale.edu/events/upcoming 

Updated 10 January 2023