College

Violinist, alumna, and former NEC faculty member Gabriela Díaz ’03, ’05 MM is the newest member of the world-renowned Kronos Quartet. With the addition of Díaz, half of the famed Kronos Quartet’s members are now NEC alumni. Cellist Paul Wiancko ’12 GD joined the quartet in February 2023.

Three New England Conservatory alumni have been announced as part of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artists Program for the 2024-2025 season. Tenor Yuntong Han ’21, baritone Hyungjin Son ’24 MM, and pianist Sujin Choi ’23 GD, ’24 GC join LA Opera’s roster of eight total Young Artists — six singers and two pianists/coaches — who will spend the season with the company. Vocalists will take numerous smaller roles in mainstage productions.  

For the fourth consecutive year, New England Conservatory has partnered with Silkroad for the continuation of its Global Musician Workshop (GMW) in Boston from August 4-10. Silkroad also introduces the first-ever international iteration of the program in Hangzhou, China, presented in partnership with Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, from August 26-31.   

Pianist and NEC alumna Ariel Mo ’20, ’22 MM, ’24 GD has been named the newest member of Trio Gaia, NEC's most recent graduate piano trio in residence. Mo succeeds Andrew Barnwell ’20, ’23 MM, ’24 GD, who leaves the group to pursue other projects. 

The Cassatt String Quartet has announced violist and NEC alumna Emily Brandenburg ’15 MM as its new member. Brandenburg will succeed Rosemary Nelis, who joined the group in 2022 and is leaving to focus on other projects. Other quartet members include violinists Jennifer Leshnower and Muneko Otani, who studied at NEC in the '80s, and cellist Gwen Krosnick ’13 MM.

In the spring of 2023, New England Conservatory launched its innovative NEC Studio Sessions series to provide a dynamic platform for students to showcase their musical talents and artistry and engage with a broader audience. As the first year of Studio Sessions concludes, the series has exceeded expectations, offering a unique blend of musical exploration, technical prowess, and artistic expression that has resonated with digital audiences worldwide, garnering over 65,000 views across 15 episodes.    

Violinist and NEC alumnus Liyuan Xie ’22 has been appointed the Cleveland Orchestra’s first associate concertmaster. 

In honor of Juneteenth, New England Conservatory commemorates the spirit of liberation, resilience, and creativity of Black Americans. We recognize the many ways NEC's Black alumni community members have brought music to the world and opened the doors for others through their passion and exceptional artistry.  One such NEC community member was J. Rosamund Johnson, a Black artist and civil rights advocate who attended NEC in 1893. Johnson composed "Lift Every Voice and Sing," widely recognized as the Black National Anthem.