Past Engagement Events

June 2018

NEC on the Road: San Francisco
Musicians as Educators: NEC Alumni Panel Discussion

Many NEC alumni pursue careers as educators. They pass on their wisdom to the next generation of musicians. They push boundaries of what it means to be a music educator in the 21st century. Some incorporate advancing technology into their pedagogy. Some use music education as a foundation for social change. However our alumni engage with music education, they constantly search for innovation while exploring rich traditions.

NEC on the Road: Los Angeles
Musicians in the Industry: NEC Alumni Panel Discussion

The music industry in Los Angeles is dynamic, diverse, and energetic – just like alumni of NEC. It takes a unique set of skills – entrepreneurship, collaboration, innovation – coupled with an unwavering creative passion to build a career in LA. In this panel discussion, we hear from a mix of NEC alumni who are finding success in the field and how they do it.

May 2018

Graduating Student Toast

Graduating students from the Class of 2018 gathered in Burnes Hall on Tuesday, May 15 for a toast to celebrate their achievements. The toast was given by Interim President, Tom Novak. The event also included a video booth for students to share their memories of NEC. The festivities stirred excitement for the Commencement weekend ahead.

NEC on the Road: Chicago
Musicians as Entrepreneurs: NEC Alumni Panel Discussion

On Monday, May 7 at the Chicago Symphony Center, four NEC alumni and leaders in their fields discussed the entrepreneurialism that is inherently a part of musical education in a panel discussion moderated by Interim President, Tom Novak. Alumni panelists included Nikolaos Athanasiou ’01, Marta Aznavoorian ’96 MM, Jeff Alexander ’80 and Tracey Eisman ’90. They vibrantly discussed how musical discipline cultivates leadership and how creativity can translate to other professional fields such as business and arts administration. The audience of alumni, current parents and friends of NEC in Chicago then gathered for a reception upstairs. Watch the panel discussion below:

Young Alumni of Boston Networking Brunch

A group of young alumni in Boston met up at Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square on Sunday, May 6 for brunch and networking.

Anthony Coleman: Streams

NEC faculty member, alumnus and composer Anthony Coleman presented the world premiere of his new composition commissioned for NEC's 150th Anniversary, Streams, on Wednesday, May 2. This concert was a celebration of the innovation in musical composition, improvisation and performance that the Contemporary Improvisation department at NEC exemplifies. Watch below for an inside look at the creative process behind Streams in a discussion with Anthony Coleman, Hankus Netsky and Eden MacAdam-Somer.

April 2018
 

NEC Tourjée Scholarship Recital

The Tourjée Scholarship recipient for the 2017-2018 academic year, Charles Tarver ’17 MM, ’20 DMA, presented a program of his most recent compositions on Sunday, April 29. Alumni and friends gathered in the home of Alumni Council Member, Basil Chapman ’72, ’74 MM for a delightful afternoon of music.

EM Alumni Workshop Live-stream: Audience Identification / Targeting with Annie Phillips

Watch a recording of Assistant Director of Entrepreneurial Musicianship, Annie Phillips, as she leads a workshop on building and sustaining your audience.

Streams: Live-stream Panel Discussion with Hankus Netsky, Eden MacAdam-Somer and Anthony Coleman

Contemporary Improvisation faculty members Hankus Netsky, Eden MacAdam Somer and Anthony Coleman went live for a discussion on the creative process behind the world premiere of Streams. Watch below for a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity, imagination, and thought process behind Anthony Coleman's premiere and the work being done by several NEC ensembles in preparation for the May 2 concert.

Behind the Scenes: NEC Symphony + Aram Demirjian Rehearsal Live-stream

On April 6, a NEC Symphony rehearsal with guest conductor Aram Demirjian ’04 Prep, ’11 MM was streamed live on the NEC Facebook page for an exclusive look at a concert in-the-making.

March 2018

Celebration: The Legacy of Bob Brookmeyer

On March 1, 2018 the great composer and arranger Bob Brookmeyer who taught at NEC from 1997 to 2007 was honored in a tribute concert. Ken Schaphorst conducted the NEC Jazz Orchestra in a program which included a 150th Anniversary commission by NEC alumnus and 2015 Doris Duke Artist Award recipient, Darcy James Argue ’02 MM. The concert featured compositions by former Brookmeyer students and NEC alumni Ayn Inserto ’01 MM, Mehmet Ali Sanlikol ’00 MM, ’04 DMA and Nicholas Urie ’07, ’09 MM. Brian Landrus ’07 MM was featured as the baritone saxophone player on Brookmeyer's Celebration Suite.

Alumni Party: Celebrating NEC 150

NEC Alumni Council member Michelle Smith ’96 MM opened up her home on Sunday, March 11 for the Alumni Party: Celebrating NEC 150. Alumni, faculty and NEC Alumni Council members gathered for an afternoon of musical performance, discussion and celebration. The party featured performances by Hankus Netsky ’76, ’78 MM and student Do Yeon Kim ’16 MM, ’18 GD as well as by Kenneth Radnofsky ’76 MM and student Lucas Barry ’19. Charles Peltz ’85 MM then moderated a discussion on the musical learning and teaching at NEC.

EM Alumni Workshop Live-stream: Personal Finance with Rachel Roberts

Director of Entrepreneurial Musicianship, Rachel Roberts, led a live-streamed workshop on personal finance on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Alumni tuned in around the world to learn more on creating a budget, saving for retirement and financing freelance work. Watch the workshop below.

Center Stage with Aram Demirjian and Laura Blustein: Building Student-Teacher Relationships that Empower

On Saturday March 31, NEC alumni, friends and prep families gathered for brunch and conversation with Aram Demirjian 04 Prep, ’11 MM, Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Laura Blustein ’78, Chair of String and Piano Chamber Music at NEC Prep to discuss music education and the impact of student-teacher relationships.

February 2018

Bob Brookmeyer Panel Discussion

NEC alumni Ayn Inserto ’01 MM, Brian Landrus ’07 MM, Darcy James Argue ’02 MM, Nicholas Urie ’07, ’09 MM and Mehmet Ali Sanlikol ’00 MM, ’04 DMA of NEC faculty discussed the music and life of composer Bob Brookmeyer and the influence he had on their careers. The panel was moderated by NEC alumnus and Chair of Jazz Studies, Ken Schaphorst ’84 MM.

EM Alumni Workshop Series: Publicity with Annie Phillips

Alumni tuned into Facebook live for an interactive workshop on publicity, led by Entrepreneurial Musicianship's Annie Phillips. Watch the workshop below!

Pre-Concert Discussion with Michael Gandolfi

Alumnus and faculty member, Michael Gandolfi ’79, ’81 MM, led a vibrant discussion about the creative process behind his piece, Cantares de Galicia, which premiered that same night on February 15, 2018. NEC community members gathered for an intimate reception of food and refreshment beforehand. Following the talk, everyone headed over to Jordan Hall for the NEC Wind Ensemble concert featuring Director of Wind Ensemble, Charles Peltz ’85 MM, and conducting graduate student Emily Mariko Eng ’18 MM.

January 2018

NEC's Chamber Music of America Pre-Conference Day

In celebration of its 150th Anniversary on January 4, New England Conservatory presented a full day of learning and sharing focused on small ensembles, audience engagement, and entrepreneurship.

Alumni Breakfast at the Dallas JEN Conference

NEC Alumni and current students joined Jazz Chair Ken Schaphorst ’84 MM and Engagement staff for breakfast at the 2018 Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, Texas.

EM Alumni Workshop Series: Grant writing with Drew Worden

Alumni tuned into Facebook live for an interactive workshop on grant writing, led by Entrepreneurial Musicianship Program Manager Drew Worden. Watch the workshop below! 

November 2017

Center Stage with Glenn Kurtz ’85

NEC alumni, friends, and parents gathered on Saturday, November 4, 2017, in the new Student Life and Performance Center's Speed Dining Commons for the first Center Stage talk of 2017 with renowned writer and NEC alumnus, Glenn Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz led the audience in a passionate talk about how his musical education at NEC was fundamental in gaining the intensity of focus and discipline he has since used in his writing and academic career. The audience was intently listening to the unique undulations in Mr. Kurtz's career and how his beginnings at NEC led him to be a 2016 Guggenheim Fellow recipient and author of several books including "Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music." A delightful brunch was served and participants mingled before and after the talk.

NYC: Creative Workshop Series

A crowd of New York-City based alumni gathered in a Brooklyn studio on Thursday November 9, 2017 for the first installment of the creative workshop series. The event featured participatory workshops led by three NEC alumni of diverse musical backgrounds. Workshops included:

"A Musician's Guide to Pitching and Presenting" led by Jezra Kaye ’80
"New Music as a Conversation" led by Anne Sophie Andersen ’11 G.D. and collaborator David Cutright
"Composing with Speech Melodies" led by Henrique Eisenmann ’12 M.M., ’17 D.M.A.

NYC: Coffee Tasting

On Friday morning, November 10, 2017, an intimate group of NYC-based alumni convened at Counter Culture Coffee in Little Italy for a delightful coffee tasting session with local experts. Between sipping coffee with notes of toasted coconut and hints of citrus, there was networking, conversations, and fun.

NYC: Alumni Networking Brunch

The NEC Engagement team continued their On the Road trip in NYC with an alumni networking brunch at Markt on Saturday, November 11, 2017. The alumni in attendance shared favorite NEC memories and excitement about continuing to build the NYC alumni community over a delicious brunch.

Philadelphia: Alumni Networking Brunch

NEC Alumni Engagement's On the Road in Philadelphia kicked off with an alumni networking brunch at Harp & Crown. The group shared valuable professional advice and musical stories with each other. There was great interest to keep the NEC alumni community in Philadelphia growing and connected with more events.

Philadelphia Chamber Music Society Concert featuring Stefan Jackiw and David Fulmer

On Sunday November 12, the Perelman Theatre at the Kimmel Center was filled with people awaiting to hear NEC alumnus and violinist Stefan Jackiw ’06 A.D. perform with Anna Polonsky on piano. The program featured works by Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms and included a special Philadelphia premiere of They Turned Their Channeled Faces to the Sky [2012] composed by NEC alumnus, David Fulmer ’04.

October 2017

John Heiss' Class on Charles Ives - Streamed Live

Alumni from all over the world tuned in to watch Mr. Heiss give a lecture on Charles Ives, in advance of the celebration concert of Mr. Heiss' 50 years on faculty. Watch the class below!