New England Conservatory’s Institute for Concert Artists Celebrates New Class and Esteemed Advisory Council

A distinguished advisory group including Robert Ainsley, Leif Ove Andsnes, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Hilary Hahn, Anthony McGill, Aoife O’Donovan, and Abhijit Sengupta support returning and newly welcomed artists–violinist Joshua Brown, pianist Yunchan Lim, soprano Dani Jingdan Zhang, and pianist Clayton Stephenson–through mentorship and professional development

For Immediate Release (November 26, 2025, BOSTON, MA) – New England Conservatory’s prestigious Institute for Concert Artists (ICA), which was launched at the beginning of the 2024–2025 academic year, welcomes back violinist Joshua Brown ’22, ’24 MM, ’26 AD, pianist Yunchan Lim ’26 AD, and soprano Dani Jingdan Zhang ’26 AD, each of whom is in their final year in the ICA, through which they will earn NEC’s prestigious artist diploma. Joining these exceptional performers this year is pianist Clayton Stephenson ’23 Harvard/NEC, ’27 AD.

“The Institute for Concert Artists is unlike any other program,” pianist and ICA Advisor Gloria Chien said. “Beyond exceptional training from NEC’s esteemed faculty, Joshua, Yunchan, Dani, and Clayton are supported through individually tailored mentorship, professional-development tools, meaningful connections, and performance opportunities. The ICA serves as an artistic home for these extraordinary young musicians and empowers them to step confidently onto the global stage.”

NEC’s Institute for Concert Artists, whose first graduates include soprano Josie Larsen ’23 MM, ’25 AD and pianists Evren Ozel ’17 Prep, ’21, ’23 MM, ’25 AD, Changyong Shin ’25 AD, and Yutong Sun ’19, ’21 MM, ’22 GD, ’25 AD, offers a transformative experience for artists of extraordinary talent who are on the threshold of major performing careers. 

In addition to mentorship from NEC’s esteemed faculty, NEC Concert Artists enjoy access to preeminent performers and innovative arts leaders. The Institute’s Advisory Council is a group of professionals whose careers are as multifaceted as they are impressive. Members of the Advisory Council serve as thought partners for Chien and NEC President Andrea Kalyn and provide guidance and support to the Conservatory’s Concert Artists. 

The Advisory Council includes musician and administrator Robert Ainsley, who serves as artistic and general director of the Glimmerglass Festival; pianist and recording artist Leif Ove Andsnes; countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, who is general director and president of Opera Philadelphia; Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn; Avery Fisher Career Grant and Avery Fisher Prize-winning clarinetist Anthony McGill, who holds a principal position in the New York Philharmonic; Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and NEC alumna Aoife O’Donovan ’03; and industry leader Abhijit Sengupta, Carnegie Hall’s director of artistic planning.

“We are honored to bring together some of today’s most visionary artistic leaders — luminaries whose ideals embody excellence, curiosity, and integrity,” Chien said. “Their insight and partnership play a vital role in shaping the future of the ICA and supporting the artistic growth of our Concert Artists.”

The uniqueness of NEC’s Institute for Concert Artists is the robust professional-development support the performers are offered. In the ICA’s inaugural year, NEC Concert Artists participated in professional-development workshops with Hilary Hahn, Chamber Music America’s Kevin Kwan Loucks, and industry leaders including Unison Media’s Andrew Ousley, and veteran classical-music consultant Lydia Connolly. NEC Concert Artists also had press images taken by Berlin-based photographer Neda Navaee. Each Concert Artist receives a full-tuition scholarship and stipend and is eligible for support for travel and artistic projects. 

As they develop international careers, NEC Concert Artists enjoy a home on the Conservatory’s Jordan Hall stage. Each is featured on NEC’s Concert Artists Series, a cornerstone of the Institute for Concert Artists, and in annual showcase concerts in New York and Boston. ??NEC Concert Artists also enjoy exposure to new audiences through NEC’s broadcast relationship with The Violin Channel and performances on WQXR. The 2026 showcase concerts will take place on February 9 at Steinway Hall in New York City and April 1 in New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. The showcase concert at NEC will be broadcast live on The Violin Channel.

Learn more about NEC’s Institute for Concert Artists

About New England Conservatory (NEC)
Founded by Eben Tourjée in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867, the 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 young artists like Yunchan Lim and Joshua Brown to the heights of their careers. Through unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships, it 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 delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students and adults.