Yales Polyphony Cultural Music Showcase Highlights Eight Student Groups in Sudler Hall
On Tuesday night, September 10, 2026, Yale’s Sudder Hall vibrated with the music of eight distinct student ensembles, each echoing a heritage that spans continents and centuries. The Polyphony Cultural Music Showcase—an annual event spearheaded by Tristan Swangstu ’28—filled the 100 Wall St. venue with the rhythmic shouts of the Yale Klezmer Band, the fiery brass of La Orquesta Tertulia, the soulful harmonies of Magevet, and the brassy lilt of Mariachi Lux Et Veritas de Yale, among others.
Swangstu, who organized the program, explained that the showcase “provides a stage for many non‑a‑cappella singing groups that don’t receive exposure through Woolsey Jam.” The event was designed to bring cultural heritage to the fore, a goal embodied by Mariachi performers donning traditional sombreros and the Slavic Chorus members in richly embroidered dresses.
The Yale Klezmer Band, a group that plays music rooted in Ashkenazi Jewish traditions from Central and Eastern Europe, highlighted its blend of historic and contemporary repertoire. Emma Donnini ’27 noted that the band’s “very old Dropbox folder” preserves older pieces while new songs are drawn from Yiddish classes. She added that learning by ear, listening to historic recordings, and incorporating improvisations keeps Klezmer alive on campus.
La Orquesta Tertulia—Yale’s first and only Latin band—was described by Gian Lombeyda ’28 as a “familia” that plays music the members grew up with. He stressed the importance of preserving Latin culture across generations and recalled songs he heard with his Ecuadorian parents and grandparents.
Magevet, a Jewish a‑cappella group, was highlighted by former News investigations editor Ada Perlman ’27. She recalled a performance at a pizza shop in Sydney, Australia, where the owner was moved by the group’s rendition of a traditional song. Perlman said Magevet’s music “touches people in a really meaningful way that differs from some of the other a‑cappella groups that tend to sing more pop songs.”
The Yale Russian Chorus, an all‑male tenor‑bass ensemble, was represented by Jonas Loesel ’27, who joined after attending the chorus’s 70th‑anniversary concert in 2023. Loesel described the chorus’s repertoire, which includes Russian, Georgian, Ukrainian, and Armenian songs, as exposing him to cultures he otherwise would not have encountered. He recalled the chorus’s 2025 tour of Georgia and Armenia, where singers exchanged songs with local folk groups.
The event underscored Yale’s commitment to cultural diversity in music. By showcasing a range of traditions—from Klezmer and Latin to Jewish a‑cappella and Russian choral—the Polyphony Cultural Music Showcase offers students a platform to share their heritage and broaden the musical experience of the Yale community.
The showcase concluded with applause for all eight groups, and the event is scheduled to recur annually, continuing Yale’s tradition of celebrating multicultural music on campus.
