Orchestras

All students majoring in an orchestral instrument participate in NEC's orchestra program, under the leadership of Hugh Wolff, Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood Director of Orchestras at NEC. David Loebel, as Associate Director of Orchestras, also conducts a large number of concerts each year. Donald Palma coaches the conductorless NEC Chamber Orchestra, with guest appearances by other faculty members.

As an orchestra member, you will have a full season of rehearsals, concerts, and reading sessions under conditions matching the professional orchestra world.

• At least five public concerts per year, plus full opera productions—see recent repertoire on this page
• Emphasis on learning a wide range of repertoire and styles
• Sectionals led by Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians
• Reading sessions with visiting BSO conductors

In addition to this core program, specialized ensembles provide additional playing opportunities for wind, brass, and percussion majors. Outside of your credit-bearing orchestra, you may also participate in the paid Lab Orchestra, where you will read scores under the direction of participants in NEC's orchestral conducting program.

Current students: Find audition schedules, ensemble audition information, and required orchestral excerpts here.

Repertoire

Visitors to NEC's Firestone Library may listen to recordings of these and other NEC concerts. Where indicated, tracks are available at NEC's Instant Encore channel as streams and downloads.

Conducted by Hugh Wolff

Hugh Wolff first visited NEC to conduct in Jordan Hall on October 3, 2007. In the spring of 2008 he was announced as NEC's Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood Director of Orchestras, and has conducted roughly half of each year's orchestra concerts beginning with the 2008/2009 academic year.

Hugh Wolff conducted the NEC Philharmonia in Symphony Hall on April 7, 2010. This was the first time an NEC orchestra had performed in Symphony Hall since 1995, when Jordan Hall was closed for restoration. Listen to this concert at InstantEncore.

Adams Lollapalooza 2010-09-29 stream/download
Barber Music for a Scene from Shelley 2008-10-01
Barber Serenade for Strings 2010-04-07 Symphony Hall stream/download
Barber Violin Concerto with Hannah Choi 2010-11-03 stream/download
Bartók The Miraculous Mandarin Suite 2010-11-03 stream/download
Beethoven Symphony No. 1 2009-11-04
Beethoven Symphony No. 3, "Eroica" 2010-04-28
Beethoven Symphony No. 4 2010-09-29 stream/download
Beethoven Symphony No. 7 2008-10-01
Berlioz Roméo et Juliette 2008-10-22
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 2010-09-29 stream/download
Bernstein Overture to Candide 2009-04-01
Bernstein West Side Story: Symphonic Dances 2009-04-01
Brahms Serenade No. 1 2010-03-03
Brahms Symphony No. 3 2009-09-30
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 2 2009-04-22
Carter Holiday Overture 2008-10-01
Dvorák Symphony No. 6 2009-04-01
Gandolfi "The Nonsense" from The Garden of Cosmic Speculation 2009-01-29
Haydn Symphony No. 86 in D Major 2009-01-29
Haydn Symphony No. 90 in C Major 2010-11-03 stream/download
Ives Symphony No. 2 2009-11-04
Kernis New Era Dance 2008-10-01
Mackey Lost and Found 2007-10-03
Mahler Symphony No. 1 (1889 Budapest version) 2011-09-26 stream/download
Messiaen Les Offrandes oubliées 2008-10-22
Mozart Symphony No. 41 in C Major, "Jupiter" 2007-10-03
Nielsen Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" 2009-01-29
Prokofiev Sinfonia concertante 2010-04-28
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances 2009-04-22
Ravel Alborado del gracioso 2010-04-28
Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales 2009-04-22
Schumann Cello Concerto 2010-04-07 Symphony Hall stream/download
Schumann Symphony No. 2 2008-10-22
Shorter Midnight in Carolotta's Hair, Flagships, Prometheus Unbound, Orbits, Forbidden Plan-it! 2009-10-24
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 2007-10-03
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 2010-04-07 Symphony Hall stream/download
Strauss Don Juan 2011-09-26 stream/download
Stravinsky Rite of Spring 2009-09-30
Walton Portsmouth Point 2010-03-03
Walton Violin Concerto 2010-03-03

Conducted by David Loebel

David Loebel has visited NEC to conduct on an annual basis since the 2004/2005 academic year. Following an 11-year tenure as music director of the Memphis Symphony, Loebel has been named Associate Director of Orchestras at NEC, effective fall 2010.

Barber Symphony No. 1 2008-02-04
Berlioz Le Corsaire 2006-11-29
Brahms Hyperions Schicksalslied 2010-10-22 stream/download
Brahms Nänie 2010-10-22 stream/download  
Brahms Symphony No. 2 2008-02-04
Chadwick Symphonic Sketches: Jubilee 2010-10-22 stream/download  
Chopin/Stravinsky Grande valse brilliante 2007-02-12
Chopin/Stravinsky Nocturne in A-flat 2007-02-12
Dvorák Carnival Overture 2006-04-26
Elgar Variations on an Original Theme 2010-10-22 stream/download
Franck Symphonic Variations 2007-02-12
Ives/Monod Central Park in the Dark 2005-03-16
Ives/Porter Emerson Concerto for Piano and Orchestra 2005-03-16
Ives/Sinclair Three Places in New England 2005-03-16
Ives The Unanswered Question 2005-03-16
Ives/Schuman Variations on "America" 2005-03-16
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 2006-04-26
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 2006-11-29
Ravel Mother Goose Suite 2006-11-29
Schumann Symphony No. 1, "Spring" 2006-04-26
Stravinsky Greeting Prelude 2007-02-12
Stravinsky Quatre études 2007-02-12
Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements 2007-02-12
Thomas Shakin' (Homage to Elvis Presley) 2008-02-04

Conducted by John Page

John Page, active with a number of orchestras in his native Ireland and assistant conductor for the Boston Philharmonic, was a mainstay of the NEC College orchestra program as Resident Conductor through 2010.

Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2 2008-04-23
Beethoven Coriolan Overture 2009-02-11
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 2006-12-06
Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture 2007-10-17
Bernstein Overture to Candide 2006-02-15
Borodin Symphony No. 2 2007-10-17
Brahms Symphony No. 4 2008-02-13
Copland Appalachian Spring 2008-11-19
Dukas The Sorcerer's Apprentice 2006-02-15
Dvorák Symphony No. 7 2009-10-28
Dvorák Symphony No. 8 2007-12-05
Dvorák In Nature's Realm 2009-03-30
Enesco Romanian Rhapsody 2006-10-25
Felsenfeld Insomina Redux: 4am 2008-02-13
Finzi A Farewell to Arms 2010-04-19
Franck Symphony in D Minor 2010-02-08
Gershwin An American in Paris 2007-02-14
Glinka Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla 2008-04-23
Haydn Symphony No. 83, "The Hen" 2008-10-15
Haydn Symphony No. 92, "Oxford" 2009-12-09
Haydn Symphony No. 100, "Military" 2006-10-25
Haydn Symphony No. 104, "London" 2007-10-17
Heiss 4 Short Pieces 2009-02-11
Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis 2006-12-06
Ibert Divertissement 2009-05-16
Mahler Symphony No. 1 2009-03-30
Milhaud Le Boeuf sur le toit 2007-02-14
Mozart Overture to Così fan tutte 2007-12-05
Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain 2006-10-25
Nielsen Helios Overture 2007-03-14
Nielsen Symphony No. 3 2009-12-09
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet 2008-10-15
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 2007-12-05
Ravel La Valse 2010-02-08
Reinecke Flute Concerto 2007-03-14
Schnyder subZERO - Bass Trombone Concerto 2009-02-11
Schubert Symphony No. 8, "Unfinished" 2006-10-25
Schuller Five Etudes for Orchestra 2010-02-08
Shostakovich Symphony No. 1 2009-02-11
Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 2006-02-15 with Maxim Shostakovich coaching
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 2007-03-14
Sibelius Finlandia 2008-11-19
Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite, "Legends" 2009-10-28
Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1919) 2007-02-14, 2010-04-19
Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture 2007-02-14
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 2010-04-19
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique" 2008-04-23
Torke Javelin 2009-12-09
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 2, "A London Symphony" 2008-11-19
Wagner Overture to Rienzi 2006-12-06
Wagner Prelude to Die Meistersinger 2008-10-15
Walton Viola Concerto 2009-10-28
Weber Overture to Turandot 2006-12-06
Webern Passacaglia 2008-02-13

Conducted by
BSO assistant conductors

Since the 1990s, Boston Symphony Orchestra assistant conductors have been frequent guests at NEC, leading concerts by student orchestras.

NEC orchestras have also been invited on several occasions to be part of the BSO's assistant conductor audition process, serving as one of the orchestras for applicants.

Bartók Concerto for Orchestra 2007-12-12 Shi-Yeon Sung
Bartók Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta 2010-02-10 Julian Kuerti
Beethoven Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral" 2006-02-13 Ludovic Morlot
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 2007-12-12 Shi-Yeon Sung
Brahms Symphony No. 1 2006-04-05 Ludovic Morlot
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 2010-02-10 Julian Kuerti
Copland Inscape 2006-04-05 Ludovic Morlot
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 2007-12-12 Shi-Yeon Sung
Harbison The Most Often Used Chords 2009-04-07 Julian Kuerti
Haydn Symphony No. 95 2004-10-20 Ludovic Morlot
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25 2006-04-05 Ludovic Morlot
Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 2009-04-07 Julian Kuerti
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini 2009-04-07 Julian Kuerti
Shostakovich Symphony No. 1 2004-10-20 Ludovic Morlot
Sibelius Symphony No. 4 2006-02-13 Ludovic Morlot
Stravinsky The Song of the Nightingale 2004-10-20 Ludovic Morlot
Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments 2010-02-10 Julian Kuerti

Other guest conductors

Guest conductors from near and far expose students to a variety of conducting styles and approaches to repertoire.

Barber Overture to The School for Scandal 2005-04-13 Fabio Mechetti
Bartók Concerto for Orchestra 2004-04-07 Larry Rachleff
Bartók Viola Concerto 2008-11-05 Benjamin Zander
Beethoven Overture to Prometheus 2007-11-06 Mischa Santora
Beethoven Symphony No. 3 2007-10-12 Robert Spano reading session
Beethoven Symphony No. 7 2007-11-09 Gustavo Dudamel reading session
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique 2008-02-06 Guillermo Figueroa
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique 2009-11-12 Fabio Luisi reading session
Brahms Symphony No. 1 2008-11-05 Benjamin Zander
Brahms Tragic Overture 2008-12-10 David Alan Miller
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 2004-04-07 Larry Rachleff
Britten Sinfonia da requiem 2010-03-10 Benjamin Zander
Britten Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes 2004-12-01 Andrea Quinn
Bruckner Symphony No. 5 2010-03-10 Benjamin Zander
Copland Appalachian Spring 2004-10-27 Larry Rachleff
Copland Lincoln Portrait 2007-10-27 Larry Rachleff
Debussy La Mer 2004-10-27 Larry Rachleff
Debussy La Mer 2007-11-06 Mischa Santora
Debussy Nocturnes: Nuages and Fêtes 2009-10-07 Christopher Wilkins
Dvorak Symphony No. 9 2010-10-06 Tito Muñoz stream/download
Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso 2010-10-26 Mei-Ann Chen stream/download
Elgar Enigma Variations: Nimrod 2009-11-18 Benjamin Zander
Fine Toccata concertante 2009-10-07 Christopher Wilkins
Golijov Last Round 2010-11-18 Carlos Kalmar
Golijov Sidereus 2010-10-26 Mei-Ann Chen stream/download
Haydn Trumpet Concerto 2005-04-13 Fabio Mechetti
Hindemith Mathis der Maler 2007-02-07 Benjamin Zander
Holst The Planets 2007-11-06 Mischa Santora
Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra 2010-11-18 Carlos Kalmar
Mahler Symphony No. 4 2007-02-07 Benjamin Zander
Mahler Symphony No. 5 2005-10-29 Benjamin Zander
Mahler Symphony No. 9 2008-04-16 Benjamin Zander
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream 2010-03-15 Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos reading session
Mozart Symphony No. 40 2010-11-18 Carlos Kalmar
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade 2007-10-22 JoAnn Falletta
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade 2010-03-15 Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos reading session
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade 2010-10-26 Mei-Ann Chen stream/download  
Rossini Overture to La Cenerentola 2007-10-22 JoAnn Falletta
Schumann Piano Concerto 2004-12-01 Andrea Quinn
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 - last movement 2007-10-27 Larry Rachleff
Sibelius Symphony No. 2 2004-12-01 Andrea Quinn
Sibelius Symphony No. 2 2009-10-07 Christopher Wilkins
Sierra Fandangos 2008-02-06 Guillermo Figueroa
J. Strauss Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten 2007-10-22 JoAnn Falletta
J. Strauss Emperor Waltz 2005-10-29 Benjamin Zander
R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks 2008-11-05
Stravinsky Pétrouchka 2010-10-06 Tito Muñoz stream/download
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 2005-04-13 Fabio Mechetti
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 2008-02-06 Guillermo Figueroa
Tsontakis Mirologhia for percussion solo and orchestra 2008-12-10 David Alan Miller
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis 2004-10-27 Larry Rachleff
Walton Symphony No. 1 2008-12-10 David Alan Miller

NEC's conductorless orchestra

The NEC Chamber Orchestra, NEC’s conductorless orchestra, was founded in 2000 by double bassist Donald Palma, a founding member of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Palma’s coaching is supplemented by other members of the NEC faculty: Paul Katz, Roger Tapping, Hugh Wolff.

Music of the classical orchestra era by Handel, Haydn, and Mozart is at the core of virtually every program, along with an occasional baroque work and modern works for chamber orchestra.

In the past five seasons, this has included Handel Concerti grossi Nos. 8, 10, 11, 12; Haydn Symphonies No. 6, "Le matin,” No. 22, "The Philosopher," No. 44, "Trauer-Symphonie," No. 80, No. 88, Cello Concerto; Mozart Serenade No. 6 in D Major, K. 239, "Serenata notturna," Sinfonia concertante K.297b and K. 364 (320d), Symphonies No. 29 and No. 33, Violin Concerto No. 3.

Other repertoire performed from 2005 to present

Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 2009-04-15
Bartók Divertimento 2008-11-12
Beethoven/Mahler Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95, "Serioso" 2009-04-15
Beethoven Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 2009-02-25
Johannes Berauer Three movements for string orchestra 2007-04-11
Britten Simple Symphony 2008-10-07
Britten Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge 2006-04-10
Dvořák Serenade in E Major 2008-10-07
Elgar Serenade in E Minor 2005-10-19
Elgar Introduction and Allegro 2006-11-15
Ginastera Concerto for Strings 2009-11-16
Grieg Holberg Suite 2008-11-12
Henze Fantasia from the film Young Törless 2007-11-14
Kodály Hungarian Rondo 2008-02-27
Larsson Concertino for double bass 2007-04-11
Martin Etudes for String Orchestra 2007-10-10
Mendelssohn Sinfonia No. 8 2006-10-11
Mendelssohn Sinfonia No. 12 2009-10-14
Piazzolla The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires 2009-11-16
Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, "Classical" 2005-11-20
Rossini Overture to "La Scala di seta" 2005-11-20
Schoenberg Chamber Symphony No. 2 2008-02-27
Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht 2007-04-11, 2010-04-14
Schreker Intermezzo and Scherzo 2010-02-24
Schubert/Mahler Death and the Maiden 2009-04-15
Schubert Symphony No. 5 2008-02-27
Shostakovich/Barshai Chamber Symphony Op. 110a 2009-10-14
Shostakovich/Barshai Chamber Symphony Op. 118a 2008-04-09
Sibelius Rakastava, "The Lover" 2009-02-25
Sibelius Valse Triste 2005-11-20
Strauss Sextet from Capriccio 2010-04-14
Stravinsky Pulcinella 2010-01-28
Stravinsky Concerto in D for string orchestra 2007-02-28
Josef Suk Serenade in E-flat Major 2007-11-14
Tchaikovsky Serenade in C Major 2007-10-10
Veress Musica concertante 2006-11-15
Walton Sonata for String Orchestra 2010-02-24

2011-09-29