Boston BEAM Kicks Off With A Community Celebration

June 10, 2019

On Friday, May 10, nearly 150 young musicians, parents, teachers, and community members gathered to kick off the Boston Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music (BEAM) initiative with a launch party celebration in NEC's Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre.

The celebration featured performances by young musicians affiliated with the five partner organizations the BEAM consortium: NEC's Preparatory School, Project STEP, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Community Music Center of Boston, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

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Naledi Masilo sings into a microphone — Naledi Masilo ’22 led an NEC college jazz ensemble to open the evening's festivities.

Leslie Wu Foley with Rebecca Bogers — Leslie Wu Foley of the BSO with Rebecca Bogers of NEC Prep. Foley is the Helaine B. Allen Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Bogers is Dean and Director for NEC's Preparatory School.

President Andrea Kalyn spoke of the essentiality of programs like BEAM, and the need to enrich and diversify the future of music.

Rebecca Bogers with partners from Community Music Center of Boston — Rebecca Bogers of NEC Prep (3rd from left) with Maria Tai, Morgan Beckford, and Quentin Powell of Community Music Center of Boston.

Marshall Hughes, BEAM program manager, welcomed students, parents, teachers, and community members.

Daniel Garita-Chin, violin; Xavier Ip, cello — Daniel Garita-Chin and Xavier Ip grin proudly after their performance. Garita-Chin and Ip are students of both Project STEP and NEC's Preparatory School.

Robyn Smith speaks at a podium — Robyn Smith ’18, ’20 MM spoke on behalf of NEC's Black Student Union (BSU). The BSU plans to participate in Boston BEAM as mentors for BEAM students.