General Information
New England Conservatory equips students with the tools and confidence to meet today’s changing world head-on, and to have a meaningful impact on their communities.
Alongside its globally acknowledged excellence in the field of classical music, NEC has been a pioneer in the exploration of musical languages through its Jazz Studies and Contemporary Musical Arts programs. In addition to a distinguished faculty, students at NEC work with renowned guest artists and pedagogues, deepening their experience and broadening their perspective.
Many of NEC’s faculty members are members of the legendary Boston Symphony Orchestra, with which the Conservatory collaborates in the first-of-its-kind BSO x NEC Alliance. Together, these two iconic institutions are fueling excellence in orchestral music and expanding access to the art form.
Innovation has been a hallmark of NEC’s work since its founding in 1867. Today, the Conservatory’s bold, project-based and experiential Integrative Curriculum connects the practice studio to the concert hall and the classroom. This holistic approach to music education helps students explore their identities, understand their roles in a global society, and grow their artistic skills and sensibilities. Through creative thinking, communication, and collaboration, the Integrative Curriculum prepares students for futures they have yet to imagine.
At the heart of the NEC experience is performance. The Conservatory’s students, faculty, alumni, and guest artists appear in 800 concerts each year, most of which are free and open to the public and many of which are livestreamed for audiences around the world.
Among the artists NEC introduces to global audiences are the musicians in the Conservatory’s tuition-free Institute for Concert Artists and Professional Programs. These exceptional musicians work with faculty mentors and an esteemed Advisory Council as they launch major performing careers.
Through its Expanded Education Department, NEC also nurtures the youngest among us and those who are returning to or just discovering music, fostering community in the culturally rich City of Boston and beyond.
Learn more at necmusic.edu.
