Courtesy of Chris Randall

After a five-year run, William Boughton, conductor of the Yale Symphony Orchestra, or YSO, will bid farewell to the symphony at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.

Boughton has long been passionate about music. He was born into a musical family and studied at the New England Conservatory, Guildhall School of Music and Prague Academy. Afterward, he worked in London playing with the Royal Philharmonic and London Sinfonietta Orchestra and for the BBC.

In 1980, he formed the English String Orchestra commissioning over 20 new works and recording 80 popular pieces. He built an impressive repertoire with numerous recordings reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. Billboard Charts on several occasions. Later, he served as conductor and director of the orchestra for 25 years.

His English roots are seen in his “appropriately” British tea set, which YSO publicity chair Erin Nishi ’25 and other YSO members saw in Boughton’s office during auditions and board meetings.

Prior to YSO, he helmed the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, or NHSO, for 12 years as its 10th Music Director.

“William was dedicated to making your New Haven Symphony Orchestra a landmark American orchestra,” Elaine Caroll, current director of the NHSO, wrote to the News. 

At NHSO, Boughton was committed to educating youth. He established a studio and taught cello to low-income students in New Haven. He also built the NHSO education department and worked with State and Regional Youth Orchestras.

Despite working with numerous groups of musicians, Boughton said that YSO’s student musicians play from their hearts, “sharing [their] love for music with each other and the audience.” He said that this facet truly distinguishes it from other orchestras he’s worked with.

Boughton said that creating music extends beyond the performance of one particular section. According to YSO President Keeley Brooks ’25, as a conductor, Boughton aims for each individual member to play as though they are leading to create a more cohesive and confident sound overall.

“[My favorite part is] building a collective that rises above the mechanics of just playing the notes to create an experience that inspires and elevates the soul,” said Boughton.

While YSO members expressed appreciation for Boughton’s music expertise, they said that his leadership, care and commitment to the symphony orchestra in YSO members truly make him stand apart.

According to Nishi, this care even reaches individual students.

“At the height of the Maui wildfires last summer, Maestro Boughton took the time to message his concern and well wishes to me and my family living in Hawaii,” Nishi said. “The fact that he remembered the home state of one of his 100+ students was thoughtful in itself, but his reaching out to show he cared meant so much to me during such a frightening time.”

Skills that may not be found on Boughton’s resumé is his “legendary Wiffle Ball prowess” and his cold-calling of students during rehearsal, according to his students. 

Boughton is departing YSO to try a few new things “before [his] time runs out,” he said. 

While Boughton’s successor hasn’t yet been selected, the unique design of YSO, which includes a student assistant conductor, manager and student leadership board, will help ease the transition.

According to Brooks, Boughton is “not only receptive to student input” but considers student engagement to be a vital part of the organization. She said it was an “honor” to serve on the student leadership board during his tenure. 

Since 2014, Boughton has taught at the Yale School of Music. He will continue to do so after stepping down from his post.

“It means a lot to have a leader that is actively thinking about how building a positive culture in the organization will translate to our musical performances on the stage,” said Brooks.

Maestro Boughton will conduct his final concert at Woolsey Hall on April 23, 2025.