New England Conservatory Alumni

This past July, DownBeat released the results of their 72nd Annual Critics Poll, recognizing many jazz musicians who are also NEC alumni! The leading highlight includes Darcy James Argue '02 MM as # 1 Arranger.

Read the full list of recognized alumni through the link below:

Several NEC Alumni Recognized in the 72nd DownBeat Annual Critics Poll This past July, DownBeat released the results of their 72nd Annual Critics Poll, recognizing many jazz musicians who are also NEC alumni! The leading highlight includes Darcy James Argue '02 MM as #1 Arranger. Other recognized contenders and categories include: Brandon Seabrook '99      - Rising...

NEC is thrilled to announce the Institute for Concert Artists, a transformative program for artists of extraordinary talent who are on the threshold of major performing careers. Building on NEC’s prestigious Artist Diploma, ICA at NEC focuses on complementing artistic excellence with comprehensive professional readiness; creating meaningful connections; and introducing the concert artists to the global stage.

The ICA at NEC will include seven artists during this initial year:

🎻 Joshua Brown ’22, ’24 MM, ’26 AD, violin
🎤 Josie Larsen 23 MM, ’25 AD, soprano
🎹 Yunchan Lim ’24 UC, ’26 AD, piano
🎹 Evren Ozel ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD, piano
🎹 Changyong Shin ’25 AD, piano
🎹 Yutong Sun ’19, ’21 MM, ’22 GD, ’25 AD, piano
🎤 Dani Jingdan Zhang ’26 AD, soprano

Read more about this exciting advancement below:

NEC Announces the Institute for Concert Artists and Concert Artists Series NEC is pleased to announce the launch of the Institute for Concert Artists (ICA at NEC) and its flagship NEC Concert Artist Series, which will be a cornerstone of the Institute. Expanding on the legacy of NEC’s prestigious Artist Diploma—its highest-level performance designation—the ICA o...

NEC's Keynotes Webinar Series: How to Build a Successful Private Studio with Dr. Dana Lynne Varga '05 MM💡

⏱Wed. October 2 at 11:00am ET

In this webinar, you will learn the ins and outs of launching your own private studio and receive guidance on how to maintain its financial strength and overall longevity. Topics will include:

🎤How to determine if you want to (or should) teach
🎤Determining an appropriate teaching space
🎤Recruiting students
🎤Drafting business policies and scheduling procedures
🎤Pricing and tax considerations
🎤Mastering your budget

Register through the link below:

How to Build a Successful Private Studio 476

Update: Understanding Student Loans with Dr. Elaine Luttrull has been postponed.

New Date: April 8th, 2025; 11:30am ET

Check out the new monthly alumni newsletter!

NEC Alumni Newsletter: September 2024

🐧Apply for the NEC Mentor Program!🐧

The Mentor Program is an exciting opportunity for alumni to build their resume, mentor the next generation of musicians, and share their real-world experiences with current NEC students.

As a mentor, you can help students with:
⭐Career advice
⭐Post-graduation advice
⭐Goal setting and accountability
⭐Musical advice and guidance
⭐Support and encouragement

The deadline to apply is Monday, September 30, 2024. Find more information and apply through the link below:

NEC Alumni Network

Last chance to join us!
🎉School Year Kick-off!🎉

Celebrate the start of the school year with NEC! Join faculty, students, and your fellow alumni for an evening of music, refreshments, and trivia, with a special recognition of alumni celebrating milestone graduation years in 2025.

You are welcome to bring a guest. Kindly RSVP through the link in our bio.

Questions? Please email [email protected].

School Year Kick-Off! 470

☆ Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Dana Lynne Varga ’05 MM ☆

A leading voice for change in the classical music industry, Dr. Dana Lynne Varga is a career coach, clinician, lecturer and writer on a mission to transform the traditional music career. She brings extensive experience as an entrepreneur, artistic director, performer, voice teacher, lecturer, and writer to her life’s work of empowering classical musicians. regularly writes and speaks about creating a sustainable music career, how to build a financially stable future, entrepreneurship, and more.

💡Dana will be hosting a webinar with NEC on How to Build a Success Private Studio on October 2! You can register through the link in our bio.

📚Read more about Dana’s story through the link in our bio!

NEC alumna and violist Yuri Hughes ‘21 has been named one of three Resident Fellows of the BSO Resident Fellowship for Early-Career Musicians. This BSO fellowship began in the 2022-2023 season and supports string players from historically underrepresented backgrounds through paid calls with the orchestra. The fellows will have opportunities to perform at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and Carnegie Hall, and also on tours with both the and Boston Pops Orchestra.

Read more through the link in our bio! Congratulations, Yuri 🥳

NEC's Keynotes Webinar Series: Understanding Student Loans with Dr. Elaine Luttrull📈

Join us for our first webinar of the 2024-2025 year!

⏱Wed. September 11 at 11:30am ET

For the past couple of years, changes to student loan plans have grabbed headlines. This workshop will outline what has and has not changed when it comes to managing student loan balances, whether they have been forgiven, deferred, or dutifully paid over time. As part of this workshop we’ll:

⭐Highlight forgiveness options (including ways to figure out if you are eligible)
⭐Review the current repayment options (including the newly-named SAVE plan)
⭐Describe strategies for paying off or forgiving debt over time

Register here:

Understanding Student Loans 472

🎉School Year Kick-off!🎉

Celebrate the start of the school year with NEC! Join faculty, students, and your fellow alumni for an evening of music, refreshments, and trivia.

You are welcome to bring a guest. Kindly RSVP by August 29 through the link below:

School Year Kick-Off! 470

Alumnus and pianist Evren Ozel ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD recently took home second prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition! In addition to his second prize win, Evren was also awarded the competition's Baroque Prize for best performance of a Baroque composition.

Read more here: https://alumni.necmusic.edu/news/992069

Congratulations, Evren!🎹🎉

Alumna and violinist MuChen Hsieh ’15 has been appointed to the string section of The Philadelphia Orchestra for its 2024-2025 season.

Originally from Taiwan, .jh served as the Principal Second Violin of the Houston Symphony since 2017 and has appeared with them several times as a soloist. She is an avid chamber musician who has collaborated with James Dunham, Eric Halen, Jon Kimura Parker, Cho-Liang Lin, Gil Shaham, and Kathleen Winkler. MuChen’s festival performances include the Grand Teton Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra, the Sarasota Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West.

Read more through the link in our bio. Congratulations, MuChen!

On September 5, alumnus Joshua Weilerstein ‘09, ‘11 MM will conduct the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring three works, including a new piece composed by fellow NEC alumna Abigale Reisman ‘13 MM.

Read more about this exciting performance through the link in our bio!

☆ Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Cope Johnson ’21 MM, ’22 GD ☆

is Principal Harp of the Metropolitan Opera. She was previously Principal Harp of the Sarasota Orchestra. She has appeared with many ensembles in New England including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, and Rhode Island Philharmonic among others. Recent career highlights include a debut solo recital for the American Harp Society in New York City and guest artist features with Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota and Boston Chamber Music Society.

Read Hannah’s full spotlight through the link in our bio!

🎶 Enter NEC’s Choral Composition Performance Competition 🎶

As part of the 3-year performance series, Voices of NEC, the NEC Choral Department is looking forward to focusing one performance in the 2024-2025 academic year* on choral works composed by NEC alumni.

Visit the link in our bio for more information and to submit your entry. Good luck to all!

As seven new musicians join the San Francisco Symphony for the 2024-2025 season, three are fellow NEC alumni! Christopher Bassett ’16 joins as Bass Trombone, Jeein Kim ’21 MM joins as Section First Violin, and Davis You ’24 joins as Fourth Chair Cello.

Read more about this thrilling news through the link in our bio.

Congratulations to all! 🥳👏🏼

Conductor and alumnus Isaac Kramer ‘13 has been appointed to Director of Instrumental Music for the Governor’s Academy. The Governor’s Academy is a boarding and day school for students in grades 9 through 12, located in Byfield, Massachusetts.

received his Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from NEC in 2013, where he studied with Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops trombonist, Norman Bolter.

Congratulations, Isaac!

Check out the full news piece through the link in our bio.

Alumnus and violinist David Bernat ’18 has been appointed to the renowned Formosa Quartet. will join fellow NEC alumni cellist Deborah Pae ’12 MM and violinist Jasmine Lin ’97, ’99 MM, along with violist Matthew Cohen, in the quartet.

David is a highly accomplished violinist, soloist, and chamber musician. His recent engagements include performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood, Marlboro Music Festival, and Red Barn Chamber Music. He is also the Artistic Director of the Grace Note Farm Music Festival.

David received his Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from NEC in 2018, where he studied with faculty member Soovin Kim.

You can read more about David’s appointment through the link in our bio. Congratulations, David!

Congratulations to alumna Marilyn Crispell '68 who has been selected for an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship. The NEA began the program in 1982, which selects a number of distinguished artists who have made significant impact on the advancement of jazz music.

Read more here:

alumni.necmusic.edu

Congratulations to alumna Holly Choe ‘17 MM on being selected for the Gustavo Dudamel Fellowship. Music and Artistic Director , together with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, created this program in 2009 to “provide a unique opportunity for promising young conductors from around the world to develop their craft and enrich their musical experience through personal mentorship and participation in the ’s orchestral, education, and community programs.” was one of four conductors selected to take part in this fellowship for the 2024-2025 season.

Read more here: https://alumni.necmusic.edu/news/967002

Three New England Conservatory alumni have been announced as part of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artists Program for the 2024-2025 season. Tenor Yuntong Han ’21, baritone Hyungjin Son ’24 MM, and pianist Sujin Choi ’23 GD, ’24 GC will join LA Opera’s roster of eight total Young Artists who will spend the season with the company.

Read more through the link in our bio!

⭐ Alumni Spotlight: Seiyoung Kim ’19 MM ⭐

Korean-born tenor Seiyoung Kim recently graduated from the Yale School of Music with extensive experience performing in opera. During his time at Yale, Seiyoung took on leading roles such as the title role in Rossini's Le Comte Ory and Oronte in Alcina. He was also awarded the Phyllis Curtin Career Entry Prize, which is awarded to a graduating voice student who demonstrates exceptional talent as an artist and promise for a professional career.

Read the full spotlight:

Alumni Spotlight: Seiyoung Kim ’19 MM Korean-born tenor Seiyoung Kim recently graduated from the Yale School of Music with extensive experience performing in opera. During his time at Yale, Seiyoung took on leading roles such as the title role in Rossini's Le Comte Ory and Oronte in Alcina. He was also awarded the Phyllis Curtin Career....

In an article published June 21, 2024, Billboard magazine, one of the world's premiere music publications, explored Boston's rich musical diversity and the institutions that shape the city's sound. The article cited New England Conservatory as "a nurturing ground for musical talent from around the globe," continuing:

With a student body representing over 40 countries, NEC fosters a community where students learn not only from their professors but also from each other’s unique musical perspectives.

Whether mastering the intricacies of Bach or exploring the improvisational artistry of jazz, students at NEC are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage while embracing new forms of expression, creating a dynamic exchange of ideas that fuel innovation and creativity.

Click the link below to read more:

Exploring The Boston Music Institutions Shaping the Sound of the City Take a peak into Boston's vibrant music scene as Billboard explores the influential institutions shaping the city's distinctive musical identity.

NEC alumnus Darcy James Argue '02 MM has been appointed Composer in Residence for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. Darcy has prior experience with the band as their guest in 2015 and 2023. The band's website writes:

"He is considered one of the best big band leaders of his generation and a visionary arranger."

Darcy's recognitions include multiple GRAMMY nominations, a Latin GRAMMY Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Doris Duke Artist Award. He is best known for Secret Society, an 18-piece jazz group. Dynamic Maximum Tension, Darcy’s latest album with Secret Society, earned him his fourth consecutive GRAMMY nomination for "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album." Secret Society's touring schedule has brought them to Europe, Canada, South America, and multiple festival performances, including five appearances at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival. Darcy has also toured with the Danish Radio Big Band, the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra.

Congratulations to Darcy!

Alumna and pianist Ariel Mo ‘20, ‘22 MM, ‘24 GD was named the newest member of . .mf will succeed Andrew Barnwell ‘20, ‘23 MM, ‘24 GD, who is leaving the group to work on other projects. She has previously stepped in for the group for teaching and performing engagements, so they are thrilled to have her as an official member. Other members include cellist Yi-Mei Templeman ‘20, ‘23 MM, ‘24 GD and violinist Grant Houston ‘20, ‘23 MM, ‘24 GD.

Ariel has performed in venues such as Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Residenz Munich, and the Cutler Majestic Theatre, as well as The Lilypad, An Die Musik, and Spectrum NYC. In May 2023, Ariel created WATERx, an interdisciplinary concert and art installation examining our irrevocable relationship with water through a dual-lens of psychology and ecology. This fall, Ariel begins her DMA studies in Keyboard Performance at Cornell University, and will present a four-day festival at Cornell commemorating the 150th anniversary of Charles Ives. Other upcoming projects include a new solo piano work by Dongryul Lee and a residency at Avaloch Farms with violinist KJ Macdonald.

Congratulations, Ariel! We can’t wait to see all of your future accomplishments.