Performances + Events
Contemporary Musical Arts
CMA Opening Night!
Jordan Hall
Join the Contemporary Musical Arts faculty for an exciting Opening Night Concert to kick off the academic year, showcasing the rich diversity of musical traditions and artistic voices within our community. The program draws inspiration from jazz and the African diaspora, as well as Asian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, and American traditions, alongside avant-garde works, classical music, pop and more...
CMA Open House
Pierce Hall
Join CMA faculty Eden MacAdam-Somer, Hankus Netsky, Erin Hogan, Warren Senders, and Steve Netsky for some introductory workshops on harmony singing, songwriting, improvisation, Hindustani singing, Klezmer music, and more. Bring your instruments, your voices, and your ears and prepare to jump in. Everyone is welcome – no previous experience is necessary! Stick around for a student-led Open...
Open Mic Night: Presented by Contemporary Musical Arts
Pierce Hall
Students from NEC’s Contemporary Musical Arts Department share their original music and creative interpretations through live solo and small ensemble performances, exploring genres from folk, rock, and jazz to avant-garde traditions from around the world. ...
CMA Artist Talk with Gordon Beeferman
Pierce Hall
Join acclaimed composer, pianist, and improviser Gordon Beeferman for an engaging discussion exploring his creative practice, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the role of experimentation in contemporary music. ...
Faculty Recital: Eden MacAdam-Somer featuring Gordon Beeferman
Jordan Hall
Join us for a special residency concert with composer, pianist, and improviser Gordon Beeferman, joined by CMA Department Chair Eden MacAdam-Somer (voice/violin/foot percussion), CMA and Jazz faculty
Recital: Paul July Joseph '27 BM, Contemporary Musical Arts
Burnes Hall
NEC's students meet one-on-one each week with a faculty artist to perfect their craft. As each one leaves NEC to make their mark in the performance world, they present a full, professional recital that is free and open to the public. It's your first look at the artists of tomorrow. Paul July Joseph '27 BM studies Contemporary Musi...
CMA Presents Water with Special Guest Multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily
Jordan Hall
Produced by Eden MacAdam-Somer and Anthony Coleman, Water invites listeners on a fluid musical journey through sound, ritual, memory, and transformation. Performed by students and faculty of NEC’s Contemporary Musical Arts Department, with special guest multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, this genre-spanning concert explores wa...
CMA Small Ensemble Concert
Join us for a Contemporary Musical Arts chamber music showcase, with performances by the Contemporary Vocal (Erin Hogan), Jewish Music (Hankus Netsky), and Mandé West African (Balla Kouyaté). ...
CMA Small Ensemble Festival
Celebrate the season with a festival of Contemporary Musical Arts Ensembles, featuring music, food, and dance all day long. The event features performances by the Ted Reichman Electronic Music and Anthony Coleman ensembles along with Irish Ceol (Liz Knowles), Early Jazz (Anthony Coleman), Persian (Nima Janmohammadi), Alternative/Indie/Punk Rock (Lautaro Mantilla), World Music (Akram Hadd...
Faculty Recital: Warren Senders
Burnes Hall
The live stream of this event is available to NEC Community members only. To watch the stream, please click the “Streaming Access” button at the top of the page and enter the NEC Community streaming password on the video window labeled “NEC-Produced Stream” when prompted. ...
CMA Barn Dance
Brown Hall
Join faculty from the Contemporary Musical Arts Department at New England Conservatory and some special guests for our Barn Dance! This family-friendly event features workshops, performances, and plenty of dancing for all ages. Whether you're an experienced dancer or trying it for the first time, come celebrate music, community, and fun with us. ...
CMA Department Concert: Sounding Resilience
Jordan Hall
In tonight’s Contemporary Musical Arts Department production, NEC students and faculty explore how music has inspired movements, united communities, and given voice to struggles for peace, justice, and equality across generations. Rooted in the histories of the Civil Rights, Labor, Suffragist, Anti-war, and Environmental movements in the United States, the program also engages with protes...
CMA Department Concert: the Music of Björk
Jordan Hall
Contemporary Musical Arts presents an evening of music by and inspired by Björk. Featuring performances of works from across her groundbreaking career alongside new pieces influenced by her singular artistic vision, this concert celebrates one of the most innovative voices in contemporary music. Produced by Lautaro Mantilla. ...
CMA Spring Ensemble Festival
Pierce Hall
Celebrate spring with a festival of Contemporary Musical Arts Ensembles, featuring music, food, and dance all day long! You’ll hear performances by the Middle Eastern, West African, and Jewish Music ensembles; R&B; American Roots; the Songwriters Workshop and Indie/Punk/Art Rock ensembles, and more. The evening will end with a student led open mic session. ...
