A Message from the President
of New England Conservatory
President's Message | Priorities | Leadership | Frequently Asked Questions
Daniel Steiner (d. June 11, 2006) wrote this message at the launch of the Gift of Music Campaign.
I recently asked a new faculty member what she finds distinctive about New England Conservatory. She told how one of her students—"a great violist” – is also taking a course in jazz improvisation: “Where else could that happen?” It happens at NEC because NEC embraces jazz and world music as well as the traditional fare of conservatories. Strolling around the practice rooms of NEC’s Jordan Hall, you will likely hear a pianist, a jazz combo, a string quartet, a Klezmer group, opera singers, a sitar player—day and night, there’s an explosion of music making, a mix of sounds and styles unlike any other school of music in the country.
NEC’s primary mission is straightforward: we teach exceptionally talented students how to make enduring contributions in every area of musical endeavor. NEC alumni perform in major symphony orchestras and opera houses, in jazz clubs and recording studios; they host radio shows and compose film scores; they serve as accompanists, producers, arrangers, arts administrators; and they work in all the major professions. They are deeply involved in determining the future of music, both here in Boston and throughout the world.
The Campaign for New England Conservatory is an essential part of the transformation of NEC. Over the past few years NEC has added a number of world-class artist/teachers to the faculty; as a result, applications for admission have soared and our students are more talented than ever. The $100 million we are raising—principally to increase endowment for faculty and student support and to improve facilities—will provide necessary financial resources for years to come.
I encourage you to consider what the gift of music means to each of us. Music fills our lives every day; it brings us joy, it brings us consolation, it tells stories and speaks of things that words cannot capture. Music is a universal language embraced by all peoples on the earth—there is no known society in which music is not important. It is simply an essential part of who we are.
New England Conservatory plays an indispensable role in advancing the cause of music. Please consider where your support can have the most impact, and then join in making an investment in the future of this extraordinary institution.
Daniel Steiner
NEC President