Performances + Events
Graduate Programs
Graduate degree programs at NEC offer the next level of training and career preparation for postgraduates. Each program provides access to NEC faculty and resources to deepen artistry and broaden musical perspectives. The latest in musical technology, exceptional performance opportunities and spaces, and world-class teaching musicians prepare graduate students for rewarding and consequential professional careers.
Master of Music
The Master of Music curriculum focuses on studio and ensemble work, supplemented by coursework in Musicology and Music Theory as well as masterclasses, guest artist sessions, and repertoire classes.
- Cello
- Chamber Music
- Choral Conducting
- Clarinet
- Collaborative Piano
- Composition
- Conducting
- Contemporary Musical Arts
- Double Bass
- Euphonium
- Flute
- French Horn
- Guitar
- Harp
- Jazz Studies – Concentration in Composition
- Jazz Studies – Concentration in Performance
- Music Theory
- Musicology
- Oboe
- Orchestral Conducting
- Percussion
- Piano
- Saxophone
- Trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Vocal Performance
Graduate Diploma
This program comprises two years of full-time study in composition, performance, and conducting. Designed by the student and their academic advisor, the individual program may include repertoire coaching, ensemble, chamber music, and coursework. Audition standards are higher than those for the Master of Music program, although not as high as for the Artist Diploma. Students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma program may pursue a concentration in Teaching Artistry and Music Education.
Graduate Performance Certificate
In this one-year certificate program, students craft a customized, focused curriculum that centers around studio instruction in their instrument/area of study, supplemented by electives that complement the studio experience and align with the student’s professional, artistic and/ or academic objectives.
Doctor of Musical Arts
The Doctor of Musical Arts program is designed to provide professional musicians with the knowledge and skills for artistic, cultural, social, and educational leadership. It is a rigorous and selective program for performer-scholars who combine the highest standards in their major area with proven accomplishments in musicology and music theory.
- Performance (including all areas of solo performance, Collaborative Piano, Contemporary Musical Arts and Jazz)
- Vocal Performance
- Composition (Classical, Jazz, and Contemporary Musical Arts)
- Music Theory
Institute for Concert Artists and Professional Trio and Quartet Programs
NEC’s Institute for Concert Artists and Professional Trio and Quartet Programs are intensive and prestigious programs designed for exceptionally gifted musicians seeking advanced training and performance opportunities. With a faculty of globally renowned musicians, each professional program at NEC provides a nurturing environment for the world’s top emerging talents to reach their full potential, preparing them for successful careers in the competitive professional music landscape.
This specialized program offers intensive training and coaching to exceptional young professional string quartets that show the talent and commitment necessary to develop as a cohesive artistic entity and pursue a professional concert career. The quartet will normally be in residence for two years, engaged in an active schedule of performances, masterclasses, and outreach programs in a range of venues. Students in the program receive a full-tuition scholarship and a generous living stipend. Quartets meeting appropriate qualifications are eligible to study within any of the NEC graduate degrees, including Graduate Diploma and Master of Music.
The goal of this specialized program is to promote the vitality and importance of chamber music in the community, assist in trio members’ career development, and provide the highest level of musical education. The program offers intensive study within any of the existing NEC graduate degrees, including Graduate Diploma and Master of Music. Ensembles perform in a variety of community and outreach concerts. The trio will normally be in residency for two years, during which each trio member will receive a full-tuition scholarship and a generous living stipend.
The Artist Diploma program offers the opportunity to deepen artistry and broaden musical perspective, all with the support of NEC faculty and resources. Awarded in two categories – Instrumental Performance and Opera Studies – it is the highest-level performance designation offered by NEC. The two-year program is extremely selective, with one candidate typically admitted to each of the programs per year. Successful candidates possess an individual musical voice and are emerging into a professional career that will make a significant contribution to the musical landscape. Artist Diploma students receive a full-tuition scholarship and a $10,000 annual stipend.
