Performances + Events
NEC Prep Concert for the City
DCR Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02108
Free – Registration Encouraged
In-Person Event
Open to the Public
New England Conservatory’s yearlong celebration of its Preparatory School’s 75th anniversary will culminate in a free concert at the Department of Conservation & Recreation's Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell.
The festive, family friendly Concert for the City, which will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, will feature NEC Prep’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) in a performance that highlights many of the diverse musical traditions that have shaped our shared culture. Since its founding in 1867, NEC has been a cornerstone of Boston’s vibrant arts community. The Conservatory’s Prep School, established in 1950, has for generations been a leader in youth music education.
The Concert for the City on May 16 will feature the YPO, led by its conductor Juliano Aniceto, Director of NEC Prep Orchestras, in a performance that pays tribute to the United States’ semiquincentennial, NEC Prep’s 75th anniversary, and NEC’s place in and contributions to Boston’s cultural landscape.
Interested in learning more about music education at NEC? Representatives from NEC's Expanded Education division will be available at the concert to answer your questions about classes, ensembles, and private lessons for all ages.
Registration for this free concert is encouraged. Please click "Get Tickets" above to complete your registration and receive more information about the concert, including arrival and parking details. For any questions about the concert, please contact ee@necmusic.edu.
Getting to the Hatch Memorial Shell
We recommend traveling to the concert via the MBTA. The Hatch Memorial Shell is within walking distance of several stations:
Charles/MGH (Red Line): 10-minute walk
Arlington (Green Line): 15-minute walk
North Station (Commuter Rail, Orange & Green Lines): 25-minute walk
Back Bay (Commuter Rail & Orange Line): 25-minute walk
Please note that parking is not available at the Hatch Memorial Shell, and that street parking in the area is limited. If you're planning to drive, we recommend parking in the Boston Common Garage, which is a 15-minute walk from the venue. Parking reservations can be made in advance through ProPark.
A drop-off point is available for those with disabilities behind the Hatch Memorial Shell. Enter 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114 into your GPS. Ambassadors are available to help anyone with disabilities to and from the drop-off point.
What to Expect from the Concert
The concert will begin promptly at 4 p.m. and will feature a performance by NEC Prep’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO), our premier youth orchestra for advanced high school musicians. The event will last approximately 2 hours.
Guests are invited to enjoy the performance from the lawn. Please feel free to bring blankets or folding chairs, as seating will not be provided. Since the event takes place outdoors along the Charles River, we also encourage dressing appropriately for the weather.
Amenities available on site will include: accessible portable restrooms, water fountains, face painting, and Free NEC swag.
Event Recording Notice
By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials for New England Conservatory.
Connect with NEC
Representatives from NEC Prep, Summer Programs, and Adult Education will be available throughout the event to answer questions about music education opportunities for students of all ages and experience levels.
The festive, family friendly Concert for the City, which will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, will feature NEC Prep’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) in a performance that highlights many of the diverse musical traditions that have shaped our shared culture. Since its founding in 1867, NEC has been a cornerstone of Boston’s vibrant arts community. The Conservatory’s Prep School, established in 1950, has for generations been a leader in youth music education.
The Concert for the City on May 16 will feature the YPO, led by its conductor Juliano Aniceto, Director of NEC Prep Orchestras, in a performance that pays tribute to the United States’ semiquincentennial, NEC Prep’s 75th anniversary, and NEC’s place in and contributions to Boston’s cultural landscape.
Interested in learning more about music education at NEC? Representatives from NEC's Expanded Education division will be available at the concert to answer your questions about classes, ensembles, and private lessons for all ages.
Registration for this free concert is encouraged. Please click "Get Tickets" above to complete your registration and receive more information about the concert, including arrival and parking details. For any questions about the concert, please contact ee@necmusic.edu.
Getting to the Hatch Memorial Shell
We recommend traveling to the concert via the MBTA. The Hatch Memorial Shell is within walking distance of several stations:
Charles/MGH (Red Line): 10-minute walk
Arlington (Green Line): 15-minute walk
North Station (Commuter Rail, Orange & Green Lines): 25-minute walk
Back Bay (Commuter Rail & Orange Line): 25-minute walk
Please note that parking is not available at the Hatch Memorial Shell, and that street parking in the area is limited. If you're planning to drive, we recommend parking in the Boston Common Garage, which is a 15-minute walk from the venue. Parking reservations can be made in advance through ProPark.
A drop-off point is available for those with disabilities behind the Hatch Memorial Shell. Enter 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114 into your GPS. Ambassadors are available to help anyone with disabilities to and from the drop-off point.
What to Expect from the Concert
The concert will begin promptly at 4 p.m. and will feature a performance by NEC Prep’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO), our premier youth orchestra for advanced high school musicians. The event will last approximately 2 hours.
Guests are invited to enjoy the performance from the lawn. Please feel free to bring blankets or folding chairs, as seating will not be provided. Since the event takes place outdoors along the Charles River, we also encourage dressing appropriately for the weather.
Amenities available on site will include: accessible portable restrooms, water fountains, face painting, and Free NEC swag.
Event Recording Notice
By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials for New England Conservatory.
Connect with NEC
Representatives from NEC Prep, Summer Programs, and Adult Education will be available throughout the event to answer questions about music education opportunities for students of all ages and experience levels.
The Star-Spangled Banner, orchestrated by Gunther Schuller
Selections from Porgy and Bess, George Gershwin
with soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper ’11 Prep and baritone Phil Lima
“We Shall Overcome” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson (arr. Nicholas Hersh)
Excerpts from Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” Antonín Dvořák
The Stars and Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa
“1812” Overture, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Victory Stride, James P. Johnson, (arr. Nicholas Hersh)
