NEC Update Vol.1, No.8, December 20, 2004

Grammy nods for NEC musicians

NEC Honors Ensembles announced

NEC opera gets critic's welcome

Give yourself a musical treat

Make the Gift of Music in a season of giving!

Grammy nods for NEC musicians

jazz nominee Don Byron '84

NEC musicians headline or perform on a wide range of recordings recognized by the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, in nominations announced last week. Categories with NEC involvement range from "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" to "Best Small Ensemble Performance, Classical." Three of the five nominees for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" involve NEC alumni or faculty, and faculty violist Kim Kashkashian is nominated in both jazz and classical categories.

The Grammy winners will be announced in a live telecast on CBS, February 13, 2005.

Read more about NEC's Grammy nominees.

NEC Honors Ensembles announced

photo by Susan WIlson, www.susanwilson.com

The NEC Honors Ensemble program can be a springboard for a student group to become a permanent, professional ensemble. Selected groups give a free Jordan Hall recital, as well as off-campus outreach performances.

This year, five classical ensembles as well as jazz and "wild card" groups have been chosen to represent NEC as Honors Ensembles. These talented students will serve as ambassadors for NEC's chamber music program, chaired by violinist Lucy Stoltzman. The Platos Piano Trio, shown in photo, is coached by Patricia Zander of the piano faculty--one of the many stellar coaches who include chamber music among their teaching priorities.

Meet this year's NEC Honors Ensembles.

NEC opera gets critic's welcome

photo by Tim Morse

After interviewing the two student singers who shared the key role of the Governess in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, T.J. Medrek of the Boston Herald returned for a performance that he found "beautifully effective."

Our streaming audio sample also remains up over the holiday break for anyone who missed the performances, or who wishes to revisit this music. NEC's spring opera production will be Massenet's Cendrillon (Cinderella), March 11-13.

Give yourself a musical treat

photo by Miro Vintoniv

Credit card maxed out, but you're still hungry for live music? Lovers of all kinds of music can unwrap festive musical packages in free concerts at NEC's Jordan Hall, held on music-starved weeknights.

There are hearty helpings of NEC concerts through December 21, and resuming January 16. Don't forget to check out student recitals as well.

Some of Boston's most musically satisfying ticketed events also take place at NEC's Jordan Hall. Click on "Jordan Hall tickets" to learn more.

Exploring NEC concerts is easy. Just follow the link below and use the "wall calendar" navigator to see day-by-day details of NEC concerts.

Make the Gift of Music in a season of giving!

photo by Paul A. Cortese

NEC relies on contributions from alumni, parents, and friends to maintain its commitment to excellence. A gift of any size to NEC's Annual Fund will be put to immediate use, helping to pay for student scholarships, faculty salaries, public programs, piano upkeep--plus everything else that makes an NEC education unique. Give today, and you'll help:

--fund 28 community outreach concerts in December

--bring 5 renowned artists to lead masterclasses in January, February, and April

--pay for 3 First Monday concerts in March, April, and May

--keep NEC's 190 pianos at a Van Cliburn level throughout the year

If you've benefited from an NEC education or know its value, you know just how important it is to pass that life-changing experience along to the next generation of students. The Conservatory is grateful for your support.