NEC Baroque Orchestra + Chamber Singers + Alana Youseffian: Handel

Artist(s)

Virtuoso violinist Alana Youssefian has forged a reputation as a sought-after soloist and collaborator known for her engaging performances, fierce virtuosity, and passionate interpretations of works spanning the baroque era to the music of today. Ms. Youssefian has enjoyed an active solo and collaborative career with the world's leading period instrument orchestras and players. She has appeared in concert with Nicholas McGegan (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Juilliard415), Masaaki Suzuki (Bach Collegium Japan), Harry Bicket (The English Concert), and William Christie (Les Arts Florissants). She has been invited to perform her interpretations of Vivaldi's violin concerti across the US, as well as the violin concerti of Beethoven, Mozart, and Mendelssohn. 

NEC's Baroque Orchestra is part of The Pratt Early Music Program at New England Conservatory, established by Harold I. Pratt ’17 hon. DM and his wife Frances G. Pratt, which seeks to invite and engage the NEC community with performers and scholars in the historically informed performance field. Master classes, symposia, and performances by nationally and internationally recognized scholars and performers are funded through this endowment. In addition, The Pratt Early Music Program at New England Conservatory aims to provide NEC students within the College and Expanded Education, which includes NEC Prep, with the opportunity to study early music and historically informed performance with experts in the field, as well as to expand the historical instrument collection at NEC.

The NEC Chamber Singers is an ensemble, open to all majors at NEC, of 24–30 musicians who perform challenging works from all style periods, with a particular emphasis on 19th–21st century a cappella works. The choir rehearses three times a week and experiences choral music-making in an intimate ensemble setting, typically in the round.

Each NEC Chamber Singer is a musician seeking to understand the principles and nuance of superior choral artistry so that they may be prepared for professional opportunities and expectations outside of the Conservatory. The choristers diligently prepare their music outside of scheduled rehearsals which makes the brief time spent together musically invaluable. The ensemble typically performs eight to ten times each academic year — on campus in the Conservatory’s Jordan Hall and at off campus venues in and around greater Boston.