About NEC

New England Conservatory
Leadership Timeline

Directors (1867–1953) | Presidents (1953–)
Trustee Board Chairs (1882–) | Overseer Board Chairs (1983–)
Current Leadership Rosters

For most of its history, New England Conservatory has been led by a director or president, working in conjunction with a governing board or boards.

Director

1867–1890 Eben Tourjée

1867–1868 Robert Goldbeck (as Co-Director)

1890–1897 Carl Faelten

1897–1930 George Whitefield Chadwick

1931–1942 Wallace Goodrich

1942–1946 Quincy Porter

1946–1953 Harrison Keller

President

1953–1958 Harrison Keller

1958–1962 James Aliferis

1962–1967 Chester W. Williams

1967–1977 Gunther Schuller

1977–1982 J. Stanley Ballinger

1982–1983 Laurence Lesser (as Artistic Director)

1983–1996 Laurence Lesser (as President)

1997–1999 Robert Freeman

1999–2006 Daniel Steiner

2006–2007 Laurence Lesser (as Interim Chief Executive Officer)

2007– Tony Woodcock

Board of Trustees President

1882–1891 Rufus Frost

1891–1899 Richard H. Dana

1899–1908 Charles P. Gardner

1908–1916 Eben D. Jordan, 2nd

1916–1922 Samuel H. Carr

1922–1928 George W. Brown

1928–1934 Edwin P. Brown

1934–1951 Philip R. Allen

1951–1953 William T. Aldrich

Board of Trustees Chair

1953–1956 William T. Aldrich

1956–1961 Maurice Fremont-Smith

1961–1972 Sherwin Badger

1972–1980 William R. Driver, Jr.

1980–1988 Francis W. Hatch

1988–1991 Edward E. Phillips

1991–2002 David W. Scudder

2002–2008 Jack H. Vernon

2008–Stephen Friedlaender

Board of Overseers Chair

1983–1988 Grant Beglarian

1988–1990 Francis W. Hatch

1990–1996 Gene D. Dahmen

1996–2004 Blair Brown