NEC Chamber Music

Borromeo String Quartet, ensemble in residence
Nicholas Kitchen, Violin | Kristopher Tong, Violin
Mai Motobuchi, Viola | Yeesun Kim, Violoncello

Weilerstein Trio, ensemble in residence

Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, Piano | Donald Weilerstein, Violin | Alisa Weilerstein, Violoncello

NEC's Chamber Music program is at the core of NEC's artistic life, and knits the social fabric of the school. Students benefit from coachings, masterclasses, performances, and the opportunity to see NEC's world-renowned faculty working with each other.

Each semester, approximately 50 student chamber ensembles are formed, including string, piano, woodwind, brass, percussion and mixed groups, coached by distinguished and varied faculty. The chamber music year for string players begins the night before the first day of classes with a reading party, during which new and returning students meet and begin to form groups for the year. Students then apply for the Chamber Music course either as individuals or as complete ensembles. The entire list of groups is posted by the end of the first full week of classes, which gives the ensembles a month to work together before the performance classes begin. Each ensemble performs twice for their peers in a performance class, once in October and again in November. Then in December, recitals pull together all 50 groups. In addition, up to nine ensembles are chosen to perform in a Gala Showcase Evening in Jordan Hall at the end of each semester.

Borromeo Guest Artist Competition
Each year the Borromeo String Quartet hosts a competition to join the quartet as guest artist in a Jordan Hall concert. The audition process includes a rehearsal with the Quartet for each finalist. The winners of each year's competition perform with the Borromeos in the following fall season.

Professional Chamber Music Training

In the fall of 2001, NEC introduced a new Professional String Quartet Training Program mentored by Paul Katz, founding cellist of the Cleveland Quartet. In fall 2002, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein introduced a Professional Piano Trio Training Program. Both programs offer intensive training and coaching for exceptional groups that show the talent and commitment necessary to pursue a concert career, and include frequent access to the master teacher responsible for each program, daily group rehearsals, performances and masterclasses in the community, and top-quality training in all aspects of musicianship and career development.

Upcoming Chamber Music Events:

December 1: First Monday at Jordan Hall: Carter 100th with String Quartet No. 1
December 2, 8pm: Carter 100th: all-Carter program with String Quartet No. 2
December 3, 6pm: Carter 100th: all-Carter program with String Quartet No. 4
December 3, 8pm: Carter 100th: all-Carter program
December 4: Weilerstein Trio Seminar Concert
December 7, 4pm and 7pm: Chamber Music Recitals
December 8: Chamber Music Recital
December 9: Chamber Music Gala Concert
December 11: Beethoven Quartet Celebration
December 12: Brahms Chamber Music Recital
December 14, 4pm and 7pm: Chamber Music Recitals
January 25: Music of Malcolm Peyton
January 25: NEC Preparatory School Chamber Music Concerts
January 25: NEC Continuing Education Chamber Music Recital
January 27: Andriessen, Barroso, Birtwistle, Heiss, Zimmermann
January 28: Borromeo String Quartet Guest Award concert
January 31: Today's Youth Perform Today's Music: William Bolcum
February 1: Today's Youth Perform Today's Music: William Bolcum
March 2: First Monday at Jordan Hall: Haydn 200th anniversary
March 3: Late Beethoven: Borromeo String Quartet
March 5: Moët Trio
March 11: NEC Bach Ensemble
March 12: Ariel String Quartet
April 6: First Monday at Jordan Hall: Purcell 350th anniversary, Schumann, Stravinsky
April 23: Chamber Music Gala
April 29: Béla Quartet
May 4: First Monday at Jordan Hall: Mendelssohn 200th anniversary
May 4: Honors Flute and Guitar Ensemble
May 24: NEC Preparatory School Chamber Music Concerts
May 31: NEC Continuing Education Chamber Music Recital
June 4: NEC Preparatory School Chamber Music Showcase
June 5: The Boston Trio

updated 01 December 2008