NEC Chamber Music

Borromeo String Quartet
Nicholas Kitchen, Violin | Kristopher Tong, Violin
Mai Motobuchi, Viola | Yeesun Kim, 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 Events:

April 20: Carol Rodland, viola
April 22: Chamber Music Recital
April 24: Chamber Music Gala
April 27 (noon, 4pm): Chamber Music Recital
April 27: Complete Bartók Quartets
April 28: James Buswell/Carol Ou Seminar Recital
April 29: Parker String Quartet
April 30: Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award concert
May 5: First Monday at Jordan Hall
May 7: Béla Quartet
May 11: Artus Quintet
May 25: NEC Preparatory School Chamber Music Festival