Programming reflects enduring legacy of the late NEC President Gunther Schuller and spotlights the next generation of musical artists - Guest artists include Lamnth, Sara Serpa & Matt Mitchell, Fred Hersch, George Schuller, Carl Atkins, Joel Smirnoff, Richard Todd, Marimolin, Christopher O'Riley, and more.
In its dynamic fall 2025 season,New England Conservatory (NEC) celebrates the legacy of visionary composer and educator Gunther Schuller. In 1967, Schuller began a decade as president of NEC, establishing the first fully accredited Jazz Studies Department at an American conservatory and launching the Third Stream Department. “Nothing like that had ever existed,” NEC Dean and Chief Artistic Officer Hank Mou said. “Gunther Schuller fostered collaborations between artists who hadn’t previously worked together and in doing so laid the groundwork for the creation of entirely new musical languages.”
At the heart of the programming the NEC Festival, Jumpin’ in the Future: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller, features performances and discussions at whose core is the fearless innovation Schuller brought to NEC and which continues to this day. The Jazz Studies and Contemporary Musical Arts (originally Third Stream) departments present Contemporary Musical Arts Today: A Global Vision Realized, Of Reminiscences and Reflections, celebrating Schuller’s centennial, as well as a program honoring Ran Blake’s 90th birthday.
Just as NEC has always stood at the intersection of tradition and innovation, so, too, has the First Monday at Jordan Hall series. Founded by cellist Laurence Lesser, the series enters its 41st year led by violist Nicholas Cords, violinist Soovin Kim, and pianist HaeSun Paik. Fall concerts honor Lesser, the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, Schuller’s legacy, and Boston’s baroque-music community.
Music by NEC’s Composition Department faculty is highlighted in the Arthur Berger Memorial Concert, and Home: A Journey for Cultural Identity and Belonging. The NEC Philharmonia and NEC Symphony perform works by Hannah Kendall, Joan Tower, Bartók, Beethoven, Berio, Elgar, Franck, Haydn, Mahler, and Shostakovich. The NEC Chamber Orchestra performs music by Mieczysław Weinberg, Mozart, R. Strauss, and Stravinsky. NEC Opera stages Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and the NEC Jazz Orchestra performs music of Carla Bley. The fall season also features artist residencies, master classes, and recitals by faculty, students, and musicians in NEC’s prestigious Institute for Concert Artists.
As the Conservatory honors Schuller’s trailblazing vision, NEC’s Preparatory School is marking 75 years of shaping generations of musicians, families, and community members across Greater Boston. To celebrate this milestone, NEC Prep will host an anniversary event featuring master classes, panel discussions, and a concert in Jordan Hall, with additional alumni and community celebrations taking place throughout the year.
The fall programming recognizes Schuller’s enduring outsized influence on NEC faculty, students, alumni, and the global music community. In celebrating his legacy, the Conservatory looks to a future that builds on his example of breaking barriers and bringing together once-disparate artistic voices. “While tradition certainly informs our direction,” Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn said, “that direction moves forever forward. NEC is singular in its historically proactive exploration of what music education can and should look and sound like.”
Contemporary Musical Arts Opening Night Faculty Concert: Celebrating Ran Blake
Contemporary Musical Arts Small Ensembles: Songwriters, Persian, Indie/Punk/Art Rock
The Conservatory’s roster of alumni includes hundreds of music's most influential artists. That list includes Coretta Scott King, Florence Price, Tessa Lark, George Li, Inmo Yang, Yura Lee, Stefan Jackiw, Anthony Leon, Erica Petrocelli, Minsoo Sohn, Cecil Taylor, and Denyce Graves.
As an independent, not-for-profit institution that educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, NEC is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools. It cultivates a diverse, dynamic community, providing music students of more than 40 countries with performance opportunities and high-caliber training from 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of music-making and teaching through college-level training in classical, jazz, and contemporary musical arts. The newly launched Institute for Concert Artists propels such young artists to the heights of their potential. Through unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships, the Conservatory empowers students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC’s mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, NEC’s Expanded Education programs deliver training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.
Jazz / Contemporary Musical Arts: Ann Braithwaite, [email protected] (781) 259-9600, 781-367-9760
At the heart of the programming the NEC Festival, Jumpin’ in the Future: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller, features performances and discussions at whose core is the fearless innovation Schuller brought to NEC and which continues to this day. The Jazz Studies and Contemporary Musical Arts (originally Third Stream) departments present Contemporary Musical Arts Today: A Global Vision Realized, Of Reminiscences and Reflections, celebrating Schuller’s centennial, as well as a program honoring Ran Blake’s 90th birthday.
Just as NEC has always stood at the intersection of tradition and innovation, so, too, has the First Monday at Jordan Hall series. Founded by cellist Laurence Lesser, the series enters its 41st year led by violist Nicholas Cords, violinist Soovin Kim, and pianist HaeSun Paik. Fall concerts honor Lesser, the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, Schuller’s legacy, and Boston’s baroque-music community.
Music by NEC’s Composition Department faculty is highlighted in the Arthur Berger Memorial Concert, and Home: A Journey for Cultural Identity and Belonging. The NEC Philharmonia and NEC Symphony perform works by Hannah Kendall, Joan Tower, Bartók, Beethoven, Berio, Elgar, Franck, Haydn, Mahler, and Shostakovich. The NEC Chamber Orchestra performs music by Mieczysław Weinberg, Mozart, R. Strauss, and Stravinsky. NEC Opera stages Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and the NEC Jazz Orchestra performs music of Carla Bley. The fall season also features artist residencies, master classes, and recitals by faculty, students, and musicians in NEC’s prestigious Institute for Concert Artists.
As the Conservatory honors Schuller’s trailblazing vision, NEC’s Preparatory School is marking 75 years of shaping generations of musicians, families, and community members across Greater Boston. To celebrate this milestone, NEC Prep will host an anniversary event featuring master classes, panel discussions, and a concert in Jordan Hall, with additional alumni and community celebrations taking place throughout the year.
The fall programming recognizes Schuller’s enduring outsized influence on NEC faculty, students, alumni, and the global music community. In celebrating his legacy, the Conservatory looks to a future that builds on his example of breaking barriers and bringing together once-disparate artistic voices. “While tradition certainly informs our direction,” Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn said, “that direction moves forever forward. NEC is singular in its historically proactive exploration of what music education can and should look and sound like.”
NEC Fall 2025 Performances and Events
More information is available at NEC’s Performances and Events Calendar. Performances are free and open to the public, but tickets may be required.Contemporary Musical Arts Opening Night Faculty Concert: Celebrating Ran Blake
Wednesday, September 3 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Contemporary Musical Arts Open House: Improvisation, Songwriting, KlezmerSunday, September 7 / 2-6:50pm / Eben Jordan Hall
Contemporary Musical Arts Student Open Mic: Folk, Rock, Jazz, World & MoreSunday, September 7 / 7-10pm / Eben Jordan Hall
Composers’ Series: John and Arlene Heiss Residency Concert – LamnthSunday, September 14, 2025 / 8:00pm / Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Paul Biss with Miriam Fried and Jonathan BissMonday, September 22, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Tuesday Night New MusicTuesday, September 23, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Philharmonia + Hugh Wolff: Mahler, RavelWednesday, September 24, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Music For Food: Ancient HeroesSunday, September 28, 2025 / 7:00pm / Brown Hall
NEC Philharmonia + Stefan Asbury: Berio, Ravel, ElgarMonday, September 29, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Lluís Claret, Pei-Shan Lee and Ayano NinomiyaWednesday, October 1, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Vocalist/Composer/NEC Alum Sara Serpa and Pianist Matt MitchellThursday, October 2 / 7:30pm / Williams Hall
1:00pm masterclass at Eben Jordan Hall Enchanted Circle: Ingrid Laubrock and Lee Hyla TriosSunday, October 5, 2025 / 8:00pm / Brown Hall
First Monday at Jordan Hall: Shostakovich, Ravel, Sofia GubaidulinaMonday, October 6, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Tuesday Night New MusicTuesday, October 7, 2025 / 8:00pm / Brown Hall
NEC Chamber Orchestra: Strauss, Mozart, WeinbergWednesday, October 8, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Symphonic Winds + Sylvia AlimenaThursday, October 9, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Max LevinsonFriday, October 10, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Composers’ Series: Arthur Berger Memorial Concert—Five Settings of European PoetsWednesday, October 15, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Jazz Orchestra: Dreamkeeper—Music of Carla BleyThursday, October 16 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Tuesday Night New MusicTuesday, October 21, 2025 / 8:00pm / Burnes Hall
Liederabend LXXVIIWednesday, October 22, 2025 / 6:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Symphony + David Loebel: Tower, Haydn, FranckWednesday, October 22, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Sonata NightThursday, October 23, 2025 / 6:30pm / Burnes Hall
NEC Chamber Singers + Erica J. Washburn: Beyond Boundaries and BordersThursday, October 23, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Perkin Opera ScenesThursday, October 23-24, 2025 / 6:00pm / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
NEC Touring Children’s Opera: Rusalka: The Littlest MermaidSaturday, October 25, 2025 / 10:00am / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
Faculty Recital: Cameron StoweMonday, October 27, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Borromeo String QuartetTuesday, October 28, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Philharmonia + Hugh Wolff: Kendall, ShostakovichWednesday, October 29, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
First Monday at Jordan Hall: Gunther Schuller, BrahmsMonday, November 3, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Liederabend LXXVIIIWednesday, November 5, 2025 / 6:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Philharmonia and Symphonic Choir + David Loebel: Poulenc, Boulanger, DebussyWednesday, November 5, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Composers’ Series: “Home”—A Journey for Cultural Identity and BelongingThursday, November 6, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Works by Sophia Szokolay, Mehmet Sanlikol and Sid Richardson and NEC students. Undergraduate Opera Seminar: Opera ScenesFriday, November 7-8, 2025 / 7:30pm / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
NEC Chamber Orchestra: StravinskyWednesday, November 12, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet Piano Master ClassWednesday, November 12, 2025 / 7:30pm / Williams Hall
BSO Prelude: “What I Hear" featuring Tania LeónThursday November 13, 2025 / 5:30pm / Williams Hall
Sonata NightThursday November 13, 2025 / 6:30pm / Burnes Hall
NEC Wind Ensemble + William DruryThursday, November 13, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Prep’s 75th Anniversary Celebration ConcertSaturday, November 15, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Music For Food: Songs and ImprovisationsSunday, November 16, 2025 / 7:00pm / Brown Hall
NEC Baroque OrchestraMonday, November 17, 2025 / 7:00pm / Williams Hall
Tuesday Night New MusicTuesday, November 18, 2025 / 8:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Festival: Jumpin’ in the Future: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller on his Centennial Chamber Music + Sonatas: Schuller and the Spirit of CollaborationMonday, November 17, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Contemporary Musical Arts Today: A Global Vision RealizedTuesday, November 18, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Symphony + David Loebel: Schuller and Stravinsky’s FirebirdWednesday, November 19, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Jazz Orchestra “Jumpin’ in the Future”: The Legacy of Gunther Schuller featuring guests Fred Hersch, George Schuller and Carl AtkinsThursday, November 20, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Of Reminiscences and Reflections: Celebrating Gunther Schuller’s 100th BirthdayFriday, November 21, 2025 / 8:00pm / Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Kenneth RadnofskySaturday, November 22, 2025 / 8:00pm / Burnes Hall
NEC Opera: Jonathan Dove’s “Flight”Sunday, November 23, 2025 / 3:00pm / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
Faculty Recital: Weilerstein Duo with Leland Ko and Sara LeMeshSunday, November 23, 2025 / 8:00pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Saxophone EnsembleTuesday, November 25, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
First Monday at Jordan Hall: Celebrating Boston’s Baroque CommunityMonday, December 1, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Tuesday Night New MusicTuesday, December 2, 2025 / 8:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Chamber Music GalaTuesday, December 2, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC Opera Scenes: An Evening of Handel and ShakespeareWednesday, December 3-4, 2025 / 6:00pm / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
NEC Chamber Singers, NEC Symphonic Winds, and Navy Band Northeast: Holidays!Monday, December 8, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
NEC New Music EnsembleMonday, December 8, 2025 / 8:00pm / Burnes Hall
NEC Jazz Composers’ Workshop OrchestraTuesday, December 9, 2025 / 8:00pm / Brown Hall
Borromeo String Quartet Seminar ConcertTuesday, December 9, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Liederabend LXXVIXWednesday, December 10, 2025 / 6:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Philharmonia + Hugh Wolff: Handel, Bartók, Beethoven Violin ConcertoWednesday, December 10, 2025 / 7:30pm / Jordan Hall
Joshua Brown ’26 AD, violin soloistContemporary Musical Arts Small Ensembles: Songwriters, Persian, Indie/Punk/Art Rock
Wednesday, December 10 / 7:30-10 pm/ Eben Jordan Hall
NEC Opera: Musical Theater PerformanceThursday, December 11, 2025 / 6:00pm / Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre
Contemporary Musical Arts Small Ensemble Festival: Music, Food & DanceSunday, December 14 / 11:00am – 10:00pm / Eben Jordan Hall
Faculty Recital: Paula RobisonSunday, December 14, 2025 / 6:00pm / Williams Hall
NEC Lab Orchestra + Graduate Student Conductors: Montgomery, Mendelssohn & MoreAbout New England Conservatory (NEC)
Founded by Eben Tourjée in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1867, New England Conservatory (NEC) represents a new model of music school that combines the best of European tradition with American innovation. The school stands at the center of Boston’s rich cultural history and musical life, presenting concerts at the renowned Jordan Hall. Propelled by profound artistry, bold creativity, and deep compassion, NEC seeks to amplify musicians’ impact on advancing our shared humanity and empowers students to meet today’s changing world head-on, equipped with the tools and confidence to forge multidimensional lives of artistic depth and relevance.The Conservatory’s roster of alumni includes hundreds of music's most influential artists. That list includes Coretta Scott King, Florence Price, Tessa Lark, George Li, Inmo Yang, Yura Lee, Stefan Jackiw, Anthony Leon, Erica Petrocelli, Minsoo Sohn, Cecil Taylor, and Denyce Graves.
As an independent, not-for-profit institution that educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, NEC is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools. It cultivates a diverse, dynamic community, providing music students of more than 40 countries with performance opportunities and high-caliber training from 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of music-making and teaching through college-level training in classical, jazz, and contemporary musical arts. The newly launched Institute for Concert Artists propels such young artists to the heights of their potential. Through unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships, the Conservatory empowers students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC’s mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, NEC’s Expanded Education programs deliver training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.
Media Contacts
Classical: Stephanie Janes, [email protected] (617) 419-0445Jazz / Contemporary Musical Arts: Ann Braithwaite, [email protected] (781) 259-9600, 781-367-9760
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