Presidential Search Committee Named
Wide variety of stakeholders, perspectives, musical disciplines represented.
In June 2015, Tony Woodcock will step down as President of New England Conservatory to begin the next chapter in his long and successful career. We celebrate his legacy to NEC, and also prepare for the future of the institution by beginning the search for a new, visionary leader.
To that end, NEC has formed a Search Committee representing a wide variety of stakeholders, perspectives, and musical disciplines. It will be chaired by Michael Thonis, NEC Trustee, NEC Preparatory School parent, and Managing Director of Charlesbank Capital Partners. Thomas Novak, NEC Provost and Dean of the College, has agreed to serve as interim president beginning July 1 and continuing through the duration of the search. He has asked not to be considered for the permanent position.
Unlike conventional searches, a particular focus of the Committee's work will be consulting with Advisory Groups that represent various aspects of the music field. These conversations will help shape the Committee’s definition of the candidate who can lead NEC in preparing its students to be 21st-century musicians and citizen-artists. The Advisory Groups will include students and alumni, faculty, educators, arts leaders, and music industry professionals.
Presidential Search Committee
Clint Bajakian '87 B.M., NEC alumnus; NEC Trustee; Creative Director/Senior Composer, Pyramind Studios
Leslie Wu Foley, Dean and Executive Director, Preparatory and Continuing Education, NEC
Edward Guo '08 B.M., NEC alumnus; Founder, IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project); Attorney, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Suzanne Hegland, Associate Dean of Students, NEC
Nicholas Kitchen '92 A.D., NEC alumnus; NEC faculty; Founding member, Borromeo String Quartet, NEC ensemble-in-residence
Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies, NEC
Thomas B. McGrath, NEC Trustee; Chief Operating Officer, STX Entertainment
Efstratios Minakakis '04 M.M., NEC alumnus; NEC faculty, Music Theory
Nedelka Prescod '12 M.M., NEC alumna; NEC faculty, Contemporary Improvisation and Jazz Studies
Kairyn L. Rainer, Chief of Staff, New England Conservatory
Sally L. Rubin, NEC Overseer; NEC Preparatory School and College parent; Director of Investments, Planned Giving, BNY Mellon
Richard Svoboda, NEC faculty; NEC Preparatory School and College parent; Principal Bassoon, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Michael Thonis, Chair, NEC Trustee; NEC Preparatory School parent; Managing Director, Charlesbank Capital Partners
Ex Officio Members
Thomas W. Blumenthal, Vice Chair and Treasurer, NEC Board of Trustees; Partner, Co-Head Private Investment Group, The Baupost Group
Kennett F. Burnes, Chair, NEC Board of Trustees; Lead Director, State Street Corporation
Thomas Novak, Provost and Dean of the College, Interim President (beginning July 1, 2015), NEC
Committed to ensuring that NEC fulfills its broad future aspirations, the Committee welcomes feedback and suggestions. Please send any comments to presidential.search@necmusic.edu
For further information, check the NEC Website.