NEC Prep And The LA Phil YOLA National Institute Partner On A Bicoastal Summer Orchestra Institute For Youth Musicians

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 of 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

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