Performances + Events
NEC Festival 2025
Jumpin’ in the Future: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller
This November, NEC will celebrate the legacy of Gunther Schuller, president of NEC between 1967 and 1977 with a week-long series of free concerts.
In addition to reflecting on his work as a composer, conductor and scholar, the legacy of Gunther Schuller’s influence on NEC will be demonstrated through a range additional programming — including workshops, faculty talks, and more.
Concert Schedule
Experience a week of free concerts inspired by Gunther Schuller’s innovative spirit — from chamber and jazz concerts to orchestral and contemporary works. Each program highlights the artistry, innovation, and spirit that continue to shape NEC’s creative community.
Saturday, November 15
Prep 75: Anniversary Celebration Concert
6:00 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Monday, November 17
Chamber Music + Sonatas – Schuller and the Spirit of Collaboration
7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Tuesday, November 18
Contemporary Musical Arts Today – A Global Vision Realized
7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Wednesday, November 19
NEC Symphony + David Loebel – Schuller and Stravinsky’s Firebird
7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Thursday, November 20
Jazz Without Borders – Schuller’s Bold Experiment at NEC
7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Friday, November 21
Of Reminiscences and Reflections – Celebrating Gunther Schuller’s 100th Birthday
8:00 p.m. | Jordan Hall
Saturday, November 22
Faculty Recital: Kenneth Radnofsky, Saxophone
8:00 p.m. | Burnes Hall
Additional Programming
The NEC Festival extends beyond the stage with workshops, faculty talks, and interactive sessions that spark curiosity and celebrate Schuller’s lasting impact.
Student Co-Lab Day
Sunday, November 16
6 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room
Legacy has Community
A free dinner curated by Huddle Student Leaders with music and conversations exploring Gunther Schuller’s life, how legacy is often grounded in community, and what legacy means to us.
8 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room
The Art of Together
An evening that combines open mic energy with chamber music open scores, a jazz jam session, cross-genre exploration and improvisation in all musical styles.
Discussion with Cristi Catt: The Life and Work of Ella Jenkins
Thursday, November 20
12 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room
This talk celebrates the life and music of Ella Jenkins, pioneering musician, educator, and cultural ambassador often referred to as “The First Lady of Children’s Music.” Through seven decades of performing, recording, and teaching, Jenkins transformed what children’s music could be, deeply rooted in African American traditions, globally inclusive, and radically participatory. Jenkins’ work resonates with many of Schuller’s ideals: breaking down boundaries between genres, championing underrepresented voices, and seeing music as a force for education and cultural connection.
Panel Discussion: Gunther Schuller and Jazz
Thursday, November 20
2 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room
Join us for a discussion with Carl Atkins, Fred Hersch, George Schuller, and Ken Schaphorst about the creation of the first fully accredited jazz studies program in a conservatory at NEC in 1969, along with a reflection on Schuller’s personal involvement in jazz as a conductor, composer, and performer.
Composer Celka Ojakangas Discussion
Thursday, November 20
4 p.m. | SB G01
Join us for a conversation with composer Celka Ojakangas, the winner of the Gunther Schuller Centennial Third Stream Composition Contest. Ojakangas’s music plays with hybridism and recontextualization, intentionally exploring and blurring the boundaries between culturally-defined genres for a resultant fun and eclectic palette of textures, rhythms, and grooves. Themes that will be discussed include pluralism, the idea of genre, and intertextuality. Ken Schaphorst will lead members of the NEC Philharmonia in a performance of Celka Ojakangas’s composition Sploopy on Friday, November 21, at 8 p.m. in Jordan Hall.
Piano Seminar: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller with Fred Hersch
Friday, November 21
10:00 a.m. | Keller Room
Brahms Horn Trio Master Class: Christopher O’Riley, Joel Smirnoff, and Richard Todd
Friday, November 21
12:00 p.m. | Williams Hall
Piano Master Class: Fred Hersch
Friday, November 21
1:30 p.m. | Williams Hall
Music from Art: Exploring Schuller’s Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee
Friday, November 21
12:00 p.m. | SB 313
3:00 p.m. | SB 315
Explore classroom learning stations introducing the artwork of Swiss artist, Paul Klee, and Gunther Schuller’s piece, Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee. Stations will present interactive tasks in a mix of English and basic German, and will utilize various audio-visual media accessible by phones and tablets.
Understanding George Russell’s Lydian Chromatic Concept
Friday, November 21
3:00 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room
Gunther Schuller, in creating the first Jazz program at NEC in 1969, brought a wealth of innovative artists. The contribution of George Russell to the musical community cannot be overestimated. He dedicated more than fifty years of his life to developing a theory of understanding music that came entirely from his intuition, experience, and practical research both as composer, band leader, and educator.
Shrouded in mystery, the Lydian Chromatic Concept (LCC) remains largely an elusive esoteric theory — unless you understand it. The Lydian Chromatic Concept is actually however not that difficult to wrap your head around and to use. But, it helps to have a tour guide. That’s where Ben Schwendener comes in. He worked with George Russell for many years, and has been teaching this theory for 30+ years here at the New England Conservatory.
In this one hour overview, Schwendener presents — in easy to understand terms and sounds — the foundational principles and theoretical perspective of the LCC, along with students performing original works from the class.
