Citation: Louis Sudler Prize, 2012

The Louis Sudler Prize for Excellence in the Performing and Creative Arts is awarded to two outstanding seniors, Emily Christine Cooley of Pierson College and Naomi Meghan Woo of Branford College.

EMILY COOLEY

Emily Cooley is a composer whose works in chamber music, orchestral composition, and solo piano reveal a mature, authentic voice. Her tenacity and creative reach have earned her recognition and awards from the National Federation of Music Clubs; the New York Art Ensemble; the Music Educators National Conference; and The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Most recently, she won the national 2012 Tribeca New Music Young Composer Competition. In the coming year, her works will be performed by professional ensembles throughout the United States. Ms. Cooley’s talents, imagination, and diligence will undoubtedly continue to yield stellar results when she enters the University of Southern California’s professional master’s composition program this fall.

For achievement in music composition, Yale College is proud to award the Louis Sudler Prize for excellence in the creative arts to Emily Christine Cooley.

NAOMI WOO

Naomi Meghan Woo, elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Commencement, just completed her first year in the piano department of the Yale School of Music’s BA-MM degree program. As a pianist, she displays a passionate sense of purpose and acute technical proficiency. She debuted at the age of 12 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and has since performed as a soloist with professional orchestras across the United States and Canada. This spring she was selected to represent the Yale School of Music in a performance at Carnegie Hall. A leader in Yale College, Ms. Woo has been a soloist with the Yale Symphony Orchestra, musical director and conductor of the Berkeley College Orchestra, and music director of the contemporary ensemble, SIC InC. 

For achievement in music performance, Yale College is proud to award the Louis Sudler Prize for excellence in the performing arts to Naomi Meghan Woo.