New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies and Contemporary Improvisation Departments Feature Array of Livestream and
Virtual Concerts
November 2 – December 8, 2020
Highlights include the NEC Jazz Orchestra in a Charlie Parker tribute, Lost Voices, a concert dedicated to amplifying underheard artists, and more than a dozen concerts featuring exceptional student ensembles coached by
renowned faculty members
New England Conservatory’s internationally renowned Jazz Studies and Contemporary Improvisation (CI) Departments continue their 2020 fall season with an array of livestream and virtual performances. Highlights include Anthropology: Music of Charlie Parker with the NEC Jazz Orchestra, Lost Voices, a concert showcasing and amplifying music by underheard artists, as well as more than a dozen concerts featuring NEC’s exceptional students performing everything from the fiddle music of New England, Persian music, contemporary chamber music, early jazz and West African music. For information visit https://necmusic.edu/concerts.
| FALL 2020
Monday, November 2 | Carlberg Ensemble Wednesday, November 4 | Morris Ensemble Thursday, November 5 | McNeil and Bergonzi Ensembles Friday, November 6 | American Roots and CI Chamber Ensembles 7 p.m. American Roots Ensemble 9 p.m. CI Chamber Ensemble For information visit https://necmusic.edu/events/contemporary-improvisation-nec-american-roots-ci-chamber-ensembles. Monday, November 9 | McBee and Coleman Early Jazz Ensembles Tuesday, November 10 | Mandé West African Ensemble Wednesday, November 11 | Levy and Zenón Ensembles Thursday, November 12, 7 p.m. | Eade Ensembles Friday, November 13 | Nieske Ensemble Monday, November 16 | Dijkstra and Lockwood Ensembles Wednesday, November 18 | CI and Jazz Ensembles for Non-Majors Thursday, November 19 | NEC Jazz Orchestra Anthropology: Music of Charlie Parker Monday, November 23 | Open Form Ensemble and Survivors Breakfast Livestreamed from Eben Jordan Ensemble Room 9 p.m. – Survivors Breakfast For information visit https://necmusic.edu/events/contemporary-improvisation-nec-open-form-ensemble-survivors-breakfast. Tuesday, November 24 | Persian Music Ensemble Monday, November 30th | Lost Voices Tuesday, December 8 | Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra |
NEC’s Jazz Studies Department was the brainchild of Gunther Schuller, who moved quickly to incorporate jazz into the curriculum when he became president of the Conservatory in 1967. He soon hired saxophonist Carl Atkins as the first department chair, as well as other greats including NEA Jazz Master George Russell, pianist Jaki Byard and Ran Blake. The foundation of its teaching and success begins with the mentor relationship developed in lessons between students and the prominent faculty artists. In addition to its two jazz orchestras, faculty-coached small ensembles reflect NEC’s inclusive approach to music making, with ensembles focused on free jazz, early jazz, gospel music, Brazilian music, and songwriting, as well as more traditional approaches to jazz performance.
Students are encouraged to find their own musical voices while making connections and collaborating with a vibrant community of creative musicians, and ultimately to transform the world through the power of music. The program has spawned numerous Grammy winning composers and performers and has an alumni list that reads like a who’s who of jazz, while the faculty has included six MacArthur “genius” grant recipients (three currently teaching) and four NEA Jazz Masters.
NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation program addresses the unique needs of musicians seeking to move beyond traditional boundaries. The department brings together an extremely diverse group of the world’s finest young artists in a setting where they can truly grow as a community of composers, performers, and improvisers. With an emphasis on ear training, technique, conceptual ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a wide range of improvisational traditions, the CI program is uniquely positioned to produce the complete 21st century global musician. Founded in 1972 by Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake, the department is “a thriving hub of musical exploration,” (Jeremy Goodwin, Boston Globe).
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
New England Conservatory (NEC) is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world for over 150 years. With 800 music students representing more than 40 countries in the College, and 2,000 youth and adults who study in the Preparatory and Continuing Education divisions, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training with internationally-esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC’s alumni, faculty and students touch nearly every aspect of musical life in the region; NEC is a major engine of the vital activity that makes Boston a musical and cultural capital. With the recent appointment of Andrea Kalyn to serve as NEC’s 17th President, the Conservatory is poised to embark on a new chapter at the forefront of innovation in education and music.
https://necmusic.edu/contemporary-improvisation
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