Blab Music
Yale School of Music Adds Five New Faculty Members for 2026-27 Academic Year
On July 8, 2026, the Yale School of Music announced a fresh wave of talent set to join the department for the 2026‑27 academic year. The new hires include three opera lecturers—Jonathan King, Dona D. Vaughn, and Boris Slutsky—and two collaborative pianists, Mohamed Shams and Min Young Kang.
Dean José García‑León welcomed the additions in a statement released by the school. “I’m thrilled to welcome such distinguished faculty to our community in the coming academic year,” he said. “This wonderful group of musicians, mentors, and teachers will enrich the life of the School in countless ways, and their artistry, wisdom, and dedication will make a lasting contribution to our students.”
Jonathan King – Lecturer in Opera
King is an American conductor and Grammy‑nominated collaborative pianist. In 2023 he was named Music Director of Opera Memphis, where he led the nationally recognized “30 Days of Opera” program that connects the company with the broader community. His experience with leading opera companies and civic music work is expected to deepen Yale’s opera curriculum and provide students with real‑world insights into contemporary opera production.
Dona D. Vaughn – Lecturer in Opera
Vaughn is an acclaimed stage director and educator. She currently serves as Artistic Director of Opera Maine, having staged more than 29 productions there. Prior to that, she was Stage Director and Acting Coach for the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program (1998‑2010) and Artistic Director of Opera Programs at the Manhattan School of Music (2008‑2020). At Yale, Vaughn will stage Fall Opera Scenes and teach Acting and Movement for Yale Opera, bringing her extensive experience in staging and actor training to the school.
Boris Slutsky – Professor in the Practice of Piano
Slutsky is a pianist celebrated for his tonal beauty and artistry. He has performed as a soloist and recitalist on every continent, collaborating with major orchestras and conductors worldwide. He previously served as Visiting Professor of Piano at Yale during the 2018‑19 academic year. His return offers students a seasoned performer with a broad international perspective.
Mohamed Shams – Coordinator, Collaborative Piano
Shams is a pianist whose career spans recital, solo, chamber, and accompaniment work. He has performed across the United States, Europe, and the Far East, working with a variety of ensembles and soloists. As Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Shams will oversee the department’s program and support students in developing the skills needed for performance and teaching.
Min Young Kang – Lecturer in Collaborative Piano
Kang is a Korean‑born pianist and artistic curator praised for her stage presence and innovative concert experiences. Her performances have appeared at venues such as Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Château de Fontainebleau, the Sejong Center M Theater, and the Astral Concert Series. At Yale, Kang will teach collaborative piano, infusing the curriculum with her international experience.
The appointments reinforce Yale School of Music’s commitment to a comprehensive opera and piano education. By adding faculty with strong ties to professional opera companies, international performance experience, and collaborative teaching expertise, the school positions itself to offer students a richer, more diverse learning environment. The new faculty will begin teaching in the fall of 2026, where their presence is expected to expand student opportunities in opera production, performance, and collaborative piano, and to strengthen Yale’s reputation as a leading institution for classical music education.
Dean José García‑León welcomed the additions in a statement released by the school. “I’m thrilled to welcome such distinguished faculty to our community in the coming academic year,” he said. “This wonderful group of musicians, mentors, and teachers will enrich the life of the School in countless ways, and their artistry, wisdom, and dedication will make a lasting contribution to our students.”
Jonathan King – Lecturer in Opera
King is an American conductor and Grammy‑nominated collaborative pianist. In 2023 he was named Music Director of Opera Memphis, where he led the nationally recognized “30 Days of Opera” program that connects the company with the broader community. His experience with leading opera companies and civic music work is expected to deepen Yale’s opera curriculum and provide students with real‑world insights into contemporary opera production.
Dona D. Vaughn – Lecturer in Opera
Vaughn is an acclaimed stage director and educator. She currently serves as Artistic Director of Opera Maine, having staged more than 29 productions there. Prior to that, she was Stage Director and Acting Coach for the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program (1998‑2010) and Artistic Director of Opera Programs at the Manhattan School of Music (2008‑2020). At Yale, Vaughn will stage Fall Opera Scenes and teach Acting and Movement for Yale Opera, bringing her extensive experience in staging and actor training to the school.
Boris Slutsky – Professor in the Practice of Piano
Slutsky is a pianist celebrated for his tonal beauty and artistry. He has performed as a soloist and recitalist on every continent, collaborating with major orchestras and conductors worldwide. He previously served as Visiting Professor of Piano at Yale during the 2018‑19 academic year. His return offers students a seasoned performer with a broad international perspective.
Mohamed Shams – Coordinator, Collaborative Piano
Shams is a pianist whose career spans recital, solo, chamber, and accompaniment work. He has performed across the United States, Europe, and the Far East, working with a variety of ensembles and soloists. As Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Shams will oversee the department’s program and support students in developing the skills needed for performance and teaching.
Min Young Kang – Lecturer in Collaborative Piano
Kang is a Korean‑born pianist and artistic curator praised for her stage presence and innovative concert experiences. Her performances have appeared at venues such as Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Château de Fontainebleau, the Sejong Center M Theater, and the Astral Concert Series. At Yale, Kang will teach collaborative piano, infusing the curriculum with her international experience.
The appointments reinforce Yale School of Music’s commitment to a comprehensive opera and piano education. By adding faculty with strong ties to professional opera companies, international performance experience, and collaborative teaching expertise, the school positions itself to offer students a richer, more diverse learning environment. The new faculty will begin teaching in the fall of 2026, where their presence is expected to expand student opportunities in opera production, performance, and collaborative piano, and to strengthen Yale’s reputation as a leading institution for classical music education.
