Aaron Chizhik,’25, an undergraduate Physics (intensive) major, and a member of Yale’s Wright Lab, is one of thirty-eight Yale College juniors who were recognized by the Council of the Heads of Colleges for their scholarship, character, and contributions to college life.
Chizhik was awarded the Joseph Lentilhon Selden Memorial Award, which is “given each year to a member of the junior class of Yale College whose verve, idealism, and constructive interest in music and the humanities exemplify those qualities for which Selden is remembered.”
Chizhik’s citation follows:
Aaron Chizhik, Grace Hopper College
“A 2023 recipient of the The R. J. R. Cohen Summer Fellowship for Musical Performance Studies, among many other music-oriented accolades, Aaron Chizhik is majoring in Physics (intensive) and Music, a combination of intellectual aspirations which has stood out to the Dean and Head since he arrived at Hopper. Aaron’s piano solo repertoire is extensive, running the gamut from Bach’s preludes to Chopin’s and Liszt’s études to Prokofiev’s sonatas. He has likewise showcased his musical prowess in music festivals in Lucca, Italy and Appleton, Wisconsin and, more locally, he has performed as harpsichordist for the Opera Theatre of Yale College and as pianist with the Yale Undergraduate Piano Collective. While his honors are extensive, Aaron has also impressed the college with his background in serving others as the Classics Alive Young Artist ambassador, organizing, and performing hour-long concerts at retirement and nursing homes, recruiting flutists and pianists, and presenting historical and stylistic explanations of each piece performed. Physicist and musician, Aaron moves forward at Yale, professing his love for both pursuits about which he is so passionate.”
This story was adapted from the Yale News story of May 3, 2024. See below for the link to the original story.