NEC Update Vol. 1, No. 21, June 6, 2005

Prep jazz group triumphs at Carnegie Hall

photo courtesy ICMEC

The Midday Quartet (in photo), a jazz ensemble from NEC's Preparatory School, was named Grand Prize co-winner (alongside a New York piano trio) at the First International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, held May 30 at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.

Edward Kodinsky, executive director of Chamber Music Foundation of New England, which sponsored the competition, told the Grand Prize winners: "You enthralled the audience with your talent, enthusiasm and overwhelming passion." The winners will perform in the Chamber Music Festival Concert Series on November 6, 2005, at St. Paul's Church in Brookline, Mass.

Read more about these competition winners.

Lesser named to Naumburg chair at NEC

photo by Lilian Kemp

Cellist and President Emeritus Laurence Lesser is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of his arrival onto NEC's faculty (in photo). In appreciation of Lesser's "contributing so much to the well-being of NEC," President Daniel Steiner recently named him to the Walter W. Naumburg Chair in Music at New England Conservatory, funded by a bequest from Naumburg, whose name also graces the nation's most coveted chamber music award.

Lesser joins two other faculty members, Donald Weilerstein and Paula Robison, both occupants of endowed faculty chairs created during NEC's current capital campaign.

Explore NEC's faculty, starting with Laurence Lesser.

Summer at NEC: "Memory and Society"

photo by Miro Vintoniv

It's not too late to register for many of NEC Summer School's unique offerings, including the "Memory and Society" Institute to be held July 13-17 with scholars and artists from around the world, under the direction of Calvin L. Hicks (in photo).

"Memory and Society" will consist of workshops and evening concerts exploring themes of displacement, memory, and identity. Visiting workshop leaders range from gospel singer and conductor Horace Boyer to Yiddish music scholar Yelena Neplok.

Find details of the "Memory and Society" Institute.

Noble sendoff for Class of 2005

photo by Jeff Thiebauth

On May 22, NEC sent forth more than 250 musicians at the school's 134th Commencement. Renowned baroque orchestra leader Sir John Eliot Gardiner--one of four honorary degree recipients--offered inspiring words on the attributes required for a successful career in music. President Daniel Steiner counseled graduates on "the pursuit of happiness," and student speaker Peter Layton '05 spoke on "the importance of humility."

A link to the complete text of President Steiner's remarks appears on the NEC home page.

Watch a slideshow of images from Commencement 2005.

Sisters in Jazz: new streaming audio

photo by Jim Kenagy

Carmen Staaf (in photo), a member of this year's Wild Card Honors Ensemble, was selected this year by the International Association of Jazz Educators as pianist for Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All-Stars, IAJE's international student competition for women jazz performers.

Staaf assembled a group that included vocalist Dana Sandberg and bassist Jorge Roeder to perform her composition Reflections at NEC's Commencement Concert on May 21--this month's "Live from NEC" streaming audio track.

Listen to Carmen Staaf's Reflections.

New donors support new concerts

This year, almost 600 new donors have come forward with gifts, helping NEC provide free concerts for all in the community to enjoy. This past year alone, the Conservatory offered more than 600 free concerts showcasing the entire spectrum that music lovers have come to appreciate here, from jazz and classical music to opera scenes, original compositions, and world music--performed by students, faculty, and alumni.

While these concerts are offered at no charge to the community, they are not without cost to NEC. Annual Fund donors provide the fuel for everything that New England Conservatory does, including these concerts, and donors are rewarded with the concerts themselves as well as by being the first to know about what's going on, through this newsletter as well as through NEC's calendar listings, on the Web and in print.

If you have thought about making a gift to NEC, now is the time to join other first-time donors to help underwrite the cost of these free concerts and announcements, and help make the upcoming concert season possible.

Make your Annual Fund gift online.