Testimonials
Nicholas McGegan
, Conductor
Whenever I am looking to hire a young singer for a project, I always check to see if they were at Yale and studied with James Taylor. If they were a pupil of his, then I know that the singer will have a great technique and be a very stylish performer of the baroque repertoire. His really is the gold standard! Prof. Taylor is such a dedicated teacher and it is clear that his students love working with him. He creates a wonderful atmosphere in his studio that I have felt every time I visit Yale to work his class.
Masaaki Suzuki, Conductor
Please join me in congratulating Jimmy on his new website! For more than ten years now, I have worked with his students at the ISM. Since my residency at Yale is basically only in the fall and spring, I am always amazed to see how much progress his students can make between visits. This is absolutely good evidence of how good their teacher is! Jimmy's brilliant tenor voice can easily lead his students, not only to the ideal voice training, but also to the musical height. And his open-minded attitude to everyone, and his generous and strong leadership, with great care, make him truly an exceptional teacher and musician.
Thank you, Jimmy, for your wonderful work! Looking forward to seeing you and your students again very soon!
Sherezade Panthaki, Soprano
- Class of 2011
Being able to study at the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music under Jimmy Taylor's instruction was nothing short of a life-changing experience for me. In his renowned “Voxtet” program, Jimmy has managed to create an educational environment that is nurturing, supportive, and utterly collegial, while simultaneously challenging his students to achieve the very highest standards of music-making. He is a treasure trove of information on a variety of subjects in lessons and coachings - his deep knowledge of performance practice in the music of Bach, nuanced interpretation of German Lied, mastery of several centuries of oratorio repertoire - to name just a handful. Never content to rest on his many accomplishments and impressive record, Jimmy constantly seeks out new learning opportunities for his students, whether it be masterclasses and discussions with world-famous colleagues around the world, or creating rewarding collaborative performance opportunities at home. It can be daunting to enter the elite program that Jimmy oversees, but his warmth, patience, and wealth of experience quickly reveal him to be as gracious and superlative a mentor as one can possibly imagine!
Daniel Moody, Countertenor - Class of 2016
During my time at Yale and in the ISM program, one of the highlights were weekly lessons, coachings, and extra events with Jimmy. Jimmy defined my experience at Yale by creating concert programs, organizing masterclasses, guest concerts, and lessons with distinguished singers. He attended every major rehearsal with Schola where members of his studio had solos and helped prepare us before the daunting task of working with world-renowned conductors. Jimmy has such compassion for what students go through, and with each interaction, there is always wonderful humor mixed with a pure joy of life, learning, history, and of course, singing.
As a teacher, he is not shy to address technical areas for refinement, and constantly pushed me to sing lightly and sweetly, practicing messa di voce, staying on the “shelf” of resonance, and using the breath and support for a relaxed, loose larynx. Many of these concepts clicked for me years later with the thought, “Jimmy was talking about this!”
As a coach, his own experience and vast repertoire allows him to address musical styles, many languages (the intricacies of German in particular!) and the surrounding history of these baroque masterworks.
Jimmy knows how to create a family atmosphere. Many of my most cherished memories come from my time at Yale, being able to be a part of the Voxtet, and studying with Jimmy.
Rhianna Cockrell, Mezzo - Class of 2021
Jimmy’s approach to teaching is quite well-rounded – his expertise in languages, his extensive vocal pedagogical knowledge, his grasp of acting technique all contributed to my progress while I was under his tutelage. However, his qualifications as a teacher extend beyond his competence as a technician. Jimmy goes above and beyond to create the best experience possible for his students. He frequently offers additional time throughout the week for students who want extra lesson time. During the height of the pandemic, Jimmy fought tooth and nail to get as many performance opportunities as possible for the Voxtet singers, including scheduling multiple solo recording opportunities so that we’d have ample materials when we left the program. He constantly checks in on his students’ well-being, and is always understanding whenever we needed a break, someone to vent to, or a good cry. I left the program aware of how I’d improved technically, but also very aware of just how loved I was. Jimmy is not just a fantastic, knowledgeable teacher – he’s a kind and loving mentor, and I’ll be forever grateful for my time as his student.
Steven Soph, Tenor – Class of 2012
As a Bach soloist having performed for the past decade throughout the U.S., it is clear to me how studying with Jimmy at Yale's School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music has been the most fundamental and important preparation I've undertaken. Jimmy's encyclopedic knowledge of the repertoire, coupled with his masterful ease of instructing and modeling, invites his students to achieve a top-notch fluency with Bach, Handel, Haydn, and beyond. Those fortunate enough to study with Jimmy will undoubtedly benefit from his guidance, honing the myriad abilities required by a career in music.
Dashon Burton, Baritone - Class of 2011
I am eternally grateful to Jimmy for his brilliant and open-hearted voice teaching! Jimmy couldn't be any more accepting of where you are, and has a rare ability to meet you in that place, with a hand extended to invite you to be an endlessly curious student. His knowledge and appreciation of the music of Bach, Handel, and art song is a special gift to every musician, and to every lover of music. To learn with Jimmy is to step into the shoes of a true master, and if you're interested in bridging this world of modern and ancient music and celebrating the human spirit through song, you couldn't have a better guide than him!