Performances + Events
Overview
Start your musical journey at NEC.
NEC Prep invites more than 1,500 students from across New England to explore and find inspiration in music. More than 250 dedicated faculty members — including Boston Symphony musicians and NEC college instructors — are here to guide and support you on your musical path. We offer a broad variety of programs, including jazz, contemporary musical arts, Baroque music, and more. You can register for classes, work towards a certificate, and refine your abilities in both summer programs and academic year offerings.
NEC Prep combines conservatory rigor with community warmth. Many of our students pursue careers in music, while others embrace a lifelong passion for music. All carry the NEC experience with them wherever they go.
Contact NEC Prep
Apply for the 2025–2026 Academic Year!
The application for Fall 2025–2026 is now open! Take the next step to join our vibrant community of young musicians.
Applications for NEC Prep’s placement-based programs are due August 1, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Apply now through the Parent Portal.
Registration-based programs, which do not require an application, are open for enrollment now. Register through ASAP.
Experience Our Community
Connect with NEC Prep
Join us for an in-person information session and tour to experience our vibrant community of young musicians firsthand. Virtual information sessions are also available!
NEC Prep Programs
A place for every musician.
Sign up for a single class, join an ensemble, or move through a training program at your own pace. NEC Prep offers the flexibility to shape the musical education that best fits you or your child.
After NEC
The Latest News from NEC Prep
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Looking Back with Gratitude: Everyone Can Make Music Summer Program
Last summer, we were joined on campus by 30 Boston elementary school students for Everyone Can Make Music, a free, two-week music learning experience for children entering grades 3-5. Everyone Can Make Music was funded through a $14.5 million anonymous grant secured by NEC and the City of Boston to increase access to high-quality music education, allowing NEC to offer the program at no cost.
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NEC Prep Student and Incoming College First-Year to Perform with the BSO on Opening Night
Eighteen-year-old violinist Keila Wakao ’29, a recent NEC Preparatory School graduate enrolling at the college this fall, will make her Boston Symphony Orchestra debut during the BSO’s Opening Night Gala concert in September 2024 under music director Andris Nelsons. The BSO’s invitation follows her Grand Prize in the 2023 Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.
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NEC Preparatory School Student Saehyun Kim Wins First Prize at Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists
NEC Preparatory School student Saehyun Kim of Seoul, South Korea took first place in the Senior Division of the Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC) for Young Artists, winning a $10,000 prize. The 16-year-old also won the Audience Prize and Junior Jury Prize, each worth $500.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM NEC PREP
Making Music Matter
NEC Prep celebrates music-making of all kinds, in all places.
From Boston Public Schools and independent arts schools to partnerships with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the impact of NEC musicians is heard, felt, and lived.
