New England Conservatory Preparatory School and the LA Phil YOLA National Institute Partner on a Bicoastal Summer Orchestra Institute for Youth Music

New England Conservatory Preparatory School and the LA Phil YOLA National Institute Partner on a Bicoastal Summer Orchestra Institute for Youth Musicians in Residence at Walnut Hill School for the Arts

This one of a kind partnership aims to support young musicians from communities traditionally underrepresented in classical music with a two-week intensive program

 

For Immediate Release (July 15, 2021)—New England Conservatory Preparatory School (NEC Prep) and the LA Phil’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) National Institute (YNI) have announced a new partnership to take place throughout NEC’s Summer Orchestra Institute (NEC-SOI), a two-week orchestral program for youth musicians ages 13-18 at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. This partnership aims to serve young musicians from traditionally underrepresented communities in classical music, empowering them to become the architect their own futures.

"There has never been a more important time to listen to and empower the next generation of artists,” says Rebecca Bogers, Dean and Director of the NEC Preparatory School. “We are incredibly excited that this year's NEC Summer Orchestra Institute will bring together young musicians from around the country in friendship and fellowship. These students are building both an orchestra and a thriving artist community where everyone's story is told."

The NEC Summer Orchestra Institute taking place July 18-31, 2021, emphasizes intensive musical preparation, with special focus on concentration, practice and performance techniques, interpretation, phrasing, and general musicianship. Students also develop communication and leadership skills through their musical collaborations, learning the joy of music making while developing lasting friendships. In residence at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA, this in-person two-week ensemble program is open to intermediate to advanced-level strings, winds, brass, harp and percussion students between the ages of 13-18.

In addition to the academic and musical sessions, the repertoire chosen for practice and performance is drawn from a diverse set of global composers such as José Pablo Moncayo, Zequinha de Abreu, William Grant Still, Modest Mussorgsky, Claude Debussy, and Emmanuel Chabrier.

The outstanding NEC-SOI Faculty includes instrumentalists and teaching artists drawn from the Boston String Academy, Project STEP, New England Conservatory and New England Conservatory Preparatory School, the Juilliard School, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Queens University, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Brown University, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, California Baptist University¸ Play On Philly, and more. Find the full list of NEC-SOI faculty at necmusic.edu/soi/soi-faculty.

The 105 students of the NEC-SOI are drawn from LA Phil’s YOLA National Institute, NEC’s Preparatory School, Boston BEAM, Philadelphia’s Music Alliance For Youth, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program.

Guest artists, whose performances are open to the public at Walnut Hill School for the Arts campus on the outdoor Delbridge patio or the Keiter Center for the Performing Arts are:

-Neave Trio on July 21 at 7:30pm ET

-Vocalist and educator Naledi Masilo on July 23 at 7:30pm ET

-Violinist and violist Julianne Lee on July 27 at 7:30pm ET

-Chelsey Green and The Green Project on July 29 at 7:30pm ET

All tickets are $25 and may be purchased at https://www.walnuthillarts.org/about/events/soi-concert-series.

Student performances, which are free and open to the public take place on July 24 and 31, bringing the two weeks of study to a triumphant close.

July 24 Student Performance at 7:30pm ET

Brass Ensemble led by Burt Mason

Debussy: Petitt Suite

Rivas: Cello/Percussion Ensemble 

Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain

 

July 31 Student Performance at 7:30pm ET

Moncayo: Huapango

Chabrier: Espana Rhapsody for Orchestra

Still: Symphony No. 1 selections

Abreu: Tico Tico  

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. necmusic.edu

About NEC’s Preparatory School

NEC’s Preparatory School offers “a place for every player,” providing top quality training in a supportive and nurturing environment with opportunities for young musicians of all skill levels—from absolute beginner to near-professional. One of the largest programs of its kind in the nation, the Preparatory School serves K-12 music students from across New England. NEC Prep’s world-class faculty of 250, wide variety of options for private and ensemble study, and outstanding performance and touring opportunities all provide students with an exceptional musical and educational experience. The core components of the NEC Prep curriculum include private instrumental lessons, classes in music theory, history and composition, choral singing, and ensembles of all sizes and configurations including eight orchestras. Recognizing the need for an accessible and affordable entry point for younger students, NEC Prep’s new Musical Explorers program offers curious Boston third-graders with eurhythmics-based general music instruction and the opportunity to begin to learn an instrument. necmusic.edu/prep

About the LA Phil

Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages — Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford — as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today. laphil.com

About YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) National Institute
YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) provides young people, ages five through eighteen, with free instruments, intensive music instruction, and opportunities to perform on stages in their communities and around the world. In addition to YOLA’s local programs, which serve communities across Los Angeles County, YOLA National provides an ever-growing number of opportunities for young musicians, teaching artists, program administrators, and other stakeholders to learn from and create community with one another.

YOLA National Institute (YNI) aims to support young musicians from communities traditionally underrepresented in classical music. YNI fellows are leaders who think critically about the arts, and actively seek opportunities to question the role of music in society, and in their lives. laphil.com/learn/yola

About Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience purposefully designed for student artists in grades 9–12, with a postgraduate year also available. We offer unparalleled training in dance; music; theater; visual art; and writing, film & media arts, complemented by a robust and innovative academic curriculum. During the summer, Walnut Hill hosts boarding and day arts programs on its gorgeous, safe campus, right outside of Boston in Natick, Massachusetts. walnuthillarts.org

 

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