10 Interesting Facts about New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and was founded in 1867. It is the oldest independent conservatory of music in the United States.
The school offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music performance, jazz studies, composition, music education, musicology, and contemporary improvisation.
The conservatory has a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of around 30%. Students come from all over the world to study at NEC.
NEC is known for its emphasis on both classical and contemporary music, and its faculty includes world-renowned performers and composers.
The school is located in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, near other major cultural institutions such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Fine Arts.
NEC has a strong commitment to community engagement and outreach, with programs such as the Community Performances and Partnerships program, which provides free concerts and workshops to underserved communities in the Boston area.
The conservatory has a number of performance venues on campus, including Jordan Hall, which is considered one of the finest concert halls in the world.
NEC has a number of notable alumni, including jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, and singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman.
The conservatory has a number of partnerships with other institutions, including joint degree programs with Harvard University and Tufts University.
NEC is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design.
Tuition Room & Board Comprehensive Fee Health Center Health Insurance* Total Billed Costs
$54,210 $18,520 $1,000 $700 $2,315 $76,745
All programs
Brass Verona Quartet Professional Chamber Music Programs collaborative pianist Collaborative Piano Composer at work Composition Josh Weilerstein Conducting CMA Header 7 Contemporary Musical Arts Jazz players deep in performance Jazz Music History Music Theory Tambourine Percussion Piano hands Piano Viola player Strings Voice & Opera Flutist detail Woodwinds