NEC Update Vol. 2, No. 10, January 30, 2006
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| News from NEC |
Vol. 2, No. 10, January 30, 2006 |
Welcome to your free subscription to NEC Update, coming to you every two weeks with concert highlights and other news from New England Conservatory. Scroll to the bottom to send us a message if you wish to end your free subscription. |
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Houston's "Pasquale" saved by NEC soprano |
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photo by Paul Foley
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According to a report in the January 25 Houston Chronicle, the second night of Houston Grand Opera's production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale was salvaged by NEC alumna Heidi Stober '03 M.M. when she stepped into the lead role of Norina at the last minute, after the scheduled soprano took ill. "The second-year HGO Studio soprano sang the saucy young widow with the confidence, panache and thrilling technique that promised she could someday own the role," writes the Chronicle's Charles Ward.
Stober made her Boston Lyric Opera debut in 2003, while still a student at NEC. In photo: Stober in the lead role of Laurie in NEC's production of Copland's The Tender Land, January 2003. |
Read the full Houston Chronicle report.
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NEC launches NY scholarship event |
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photo by Andrew Hurlbut
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On May 11, the first-ever "NEC in New York Scholarship Gala" will be held at the Harvard Club of New York. This gala event will raise scholarship funds for students from the New York metropolitan region.
The evening will include a cocktail reception followed by dinner and performances by some of NEC's top faculty and students.
Outgoing NEC president Daniel Steiner will be honored at this year's event, and the event's program book will offer the opportunity to place an ad honoring President Steiner.
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Reserve tickets for this event.
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Kennedy Center spotlight on NEC students |
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photo by Andrew Hurlbut
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For the second consecutive year, NEC will be represented at "The Conservatory Project" in Washington, D.C. The Tel-Aviv Trio, violist David Kim, soprano Ji Young Yang, and pianist Vincent Planes (in photo) will perform at the Kennedy Center on February 17, during a week of concerts by students from some of the nation's top music schools. |
Find details of NEC's Kennedy Center program.
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Delicacies await at "A Feast of Music" |
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photo by Andrew Hurlbut
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Some of Boston's savviest music supporters know they can chase the winter doldrums away with a trip to NEC's scholarship gala, "A Feast of Music." This year's gala dinner will be held on February 25, and features courses of superb cuisine interleaved with musical performances by NEC scholarship recipients. The music ranges from melodious Mozart to swinging jazz, and is guaranteed to warm up your ears! |
Find out how to attend "A Feast of Music."
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NEC at festivals in Korea, Panama |
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| photo by Rachael Price '07 |
Despite the school's name, the influence of New England Conservatory extends far beyond our region. In January, this was borne out by music festivals as far apart as Korea and Panama that were led by NEC musicians.
In Korea, the second edition of the Busan Music Festival was codirected by alumni EnSik Choi '92 A.D. and HaeSun Paik '87, '89 M.M., '92 A.D., and featured performances by Martha Katz and Laurence Lesser of the NEC faculty. Pianist So-Yeun Ahn '89 M.M., '94 G.D. was dean of the festival's Music Academy, and she was among the performers in a special student concert towards the conclusion of the festival.
The Panama Jazz Festival, founded by pianist Danilo Perez of the NEC jazz and improvisation faculty, is now in its third year. NEC sent students and faculty to the festival, and offered workshops as well as performances. In photo: the NEC contingent with workshop attendees at the University of Panama. |
Read a report on the Panama Jazz Festival.
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Met masterclasses, auditions test singers |
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Visions of the Metropolitan Opera Company will be dancing in singers' heads in February, with upcoming masterclass visits by Met star Catherine Malfitano (in photo, Feb. 1) and vocal coach Pierre Vallet (Feb. 9).
During the weekend of February 4-5, six NEC singers will participate in the semifinals and finals of the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions, held at NEC's Jordan Hall. Many of today's opera stars, including NEC alumni Denyce Graves '88 DP, Marquita Lister '83, Jossie Perez '98 DP, Keith Phares '00 M.M., Barbara Quintiliani '99, and Lisa Saffer '84 M.M., '86 A.D. have left favorable "first impressions" with their performances at this competition during their student days. |
Explore NEC concerts and programs day by day.
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Florida alumni convene |
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photo by John Murphy
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NEC's Florida-based alumni are musically active and socially gregarious--and there are more of them than you might think! Don't get left out in the cold when hospitable Florida alumni couples host NEC events in Naples (Feb. 7, hosted by Joseph LoPresti '53, '55 M.M. and Rose LoPresti) and Sarasota (Feb. 8, hosted by Joseph Roche '57, '59 M.M. and Sarita Matney Roche '63).
In photo: last year's Naples event. |
Register for these alumni events.
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Online giving leaps |
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| photo by Andrew Hurlbut |
Over the past six months, we have put out the call for online donations to NEC's all-important Annual Fund, and you are answering in record numbers. Participation in online giving among alumni, parents, and friends has increased by a remarkable 62%. Additionally, overall support from NEC's alumni alone has already increased by 10% over this time last year, with more alumni than ever contributing--20% more than last year.
All gifts to the Annual Fund help to maintain NEC's commitment to excellence. Together, everyone's gifts--no matter the amount--have an enormous impact on the Conservatory. Thank you for your support! |
Make a gift online.
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| More Mozart: streaming audio |
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In 2006, NEC joins the rest of the world in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Beginning on his birthday, January 27, we offer streaming audio of a recent NEC performance of one of his concertos. Watch this space for a month-by-month schedule of upcoming Mozart activities at NEC.
February 1: Joseph Silverstein and Veronica Jochum begin a series of concerts devoted to Mozart's works for violin and keyboard.
February 8: Joseph Silverstein conducts the NEC Symphony Orchestra in Symphony No. 36 in C Major, "Linz."
February 15: John Page conducts the NEC Sinfonietta in Symphony No. 34 in C Major.
February 28: Former BSO horn player Richard Mackey leads Serenade No. 10 in B-flat, "Gran Partita," to be preceded by a panel of Mozart experts.
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Visit NEC's Mozart info page.
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Escape the ordinary when you come to NEC to hear our faculty, guests, and the best young pre-professionals perform live. And bring a friend to escape with you for the same ticket price: Free!
New England Conservatory is located at 290 Huntington Avenue (at the corner of Gainsborough Street), Boston--a block from Symphony Hall. |
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