NEC Update Vol. 2, No. 15, March 27, 2006

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

Tenor Vinson Cole, a name familiar to many Bostonians because of his frequent collaborations with the Boston Symphony Orchestra over the past three decades, will join the New England Conservatory voice faculty beginning with the 2006/2007 academic year.

Cole has sung leading roles in all the major opera houses, and is most closely identified with the French repertory: Werther and Faust are among the roles for which he is renowned.

Talent announced for NY scholarship gala

The NEC in New York Scholarship Gala, to be held May 11 at the Harvard Club of New York City, will not only raise scholarship funds to support NEC students from the New York metropolitan area, it will be a chance to hear top talent from NEC. Outgoing NEC President Daniel Steiner will be honored at this year's event.

Performers for the evening of dinner and music have been announced. Jazz pianist John Medeski '88 DP will join fellow alum, vocalist Dominique Eade of the faculty. More song will come from a faculty duo: mezzo-soprano Heidi Skok, accompanied by Irma Vallecillo. Lucy Stoltzman, Donald Weilerstein, and Paul Katz of the strings faculty will join the award-winning Jupiter Quartet, currently enrolled in NEC's Professional String Quartet Training Program.

Actor/singer/composer/director John Rubinstein will serve as master of ceremonies, with Juilliard president Joseph W. Polisi as guest speaker.

Kearney wins Lennon Songwriting Award

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

Bridget Kearney, a third-year Tufts/NEC student of Danilo Perez and Rakalam Bob Moses, is grand prize winner in the Jazz category of the 2005 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Session II. Online voting is now open to choose a Lennon Award in each category from Session I and Session II winners.

An ultimate prize--Maxell Song of the Year--will be selected from the Lennon Award winners in the 12 categories, by a jury including Black Eyed Peas, Enrique Iglesias, Wyclef Jean, Elton John, John Legend, Tim McGraw, Carlos Santana, and Carol Bayer Sager.

NY Flute Club awards NEC freshman

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

Sungwoo Steven Kim, a 19-year-old NEC freshman, has won the 2006 New York Flute Club Young Artists Competition, held March 19. Kim is a member of the NEC Sinfonietta and is a student of Paula Robison, who occupies the Donna Hieken Flute Chair at NEC.

Boston's secret jazz club

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

Some of Boston's savviest jazz fans are regulars at a secret jazz club. The sets start early, there's no cover charge, and the creativity is flowing from young performers who are coached by the seasoned artists on the NEC jazz faculty. Hint: the address is 290 Huntington Avenue.

NEC's Keller Jazz Series begins March 27 and runs through DATE. Sets are at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 each evening.

March 27, 29, 30 / April 4, 6, 11, 17, 19, 24, 26 / May 2, 3

Honors Ensembles fill Jordan Hall

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

From string quartets to a saxophone quartet (in photo), from improvisation to classical repertoire, NEC Honors Ensembles have something for every taste. These student ensembles are selected by faculty in the fall and are coached on how to put their best foot forward, in outreach performances and in coveted showcase concerts in NEC's Jordan Hall. Many have gone on from the Honors Ensemble program to win awards and build solid professional careers.

The free Jordan Hall concerts kick off March 28 with a performance by the NEC jazz and wild card ensembles.

Stellar masterclasses in violin and song

photo by Shawn Girsberger

A busy week in April brings masterclass visits from a trio of the world's top violinists, as well as the one-of-a-kind Warren Jones, a pianist with an intimate understanding of art song.

April 2: Ani Kavafian, violin

April 3: Jacqueline Ross, violin

April 6: Warren Jones, vocal music (singers and pianists). Warren Jones's masterclass is sponsored by the Ruth S. Morse Fund for Visiting Scholars in Voice.

April 7: Gil Shaham, violin (in photo). Gil Shaham's masterclass is sponsored by the Richard P. and Claire W. Morse Visiting Artists Fund.

Weilersteins' busy week

photo by Susan Wilson, www.susanwilsonphoto.com

On April 6, Donald and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, both members of the NEC faculty, mark their 30th wedding anniversary with a duo concert of music for violin and piano at NEC's Jordan Hall.

But there's much more to their week. On April 3, the couple joins cellist Laurence Lesser and soprano Delores Ziegler for a performance in Lesser's "First Monday at Jordan Hall" series. Vivian also coaches the Tel-Aviv Trio, participants in NEC's Professional Piano Trio Training Program, who perform March 31 at Old South Meeting House and April 2 at NEC.

Big brass on display

photo by Andrew Hurlbut

If you're a brass player at NEC, chances are you are studying with a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra brass section, virtually all of whom teach here. On April 9, Brass Bash brings the BSO faculty together with students for an exuberant evening of brass repertoire in NEC's Jordan Hall.

Leading up to this annual event are masterclasses by two of America's foremost orchestral brass musicians, both of them NEC alumni. Gary Ofenloch '73, '75 M.M. (March 31) is principal tuba of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Utah Symphony. Ramon Parcells '65 (April 2) is principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

More Mozart concerts & Cosi slide show

In 2006, NEC joins the rest of the world in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Watch this space for a month-by-month schedule of upcoming Mozart activities at NEC, and view a slide show from NEC's recent production of the opera Cosi fan tutte.

April 3: Divertimento in E-flat Major, K.563 included on "First Monday at Jordan Hall" concert

April 5: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K.503 performed by Yelena Beriyeva with the NEC Sinfonietta

April 10: Sinfonia concertante, K.364 performed by the NEC Chamber Orchestra

April 13: Violin Sonata in G. Major, K.301 performed by Artist Diploma student Susie Park

April 30: Piano Department Honors Concert, all-Mozart program