PG. 14
DRUMROLL PLEASE! THE WINNERS OF NEC’S SUPERLATIVES ARE ...
GOODBYE TO TONY WOODCOCK
GRADUATING REMINISCING
PG. 8 PG. 10 PG. 12
JONAS TARM’S FAVORITE PHOTOS
A MANDOLIN JOURNEY PG. 3
THE PENGUIN
ISSUE 68
MAY 11, 2015
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
(PHOTO COURTESY JONAS TARM PHOTOGRAPHY)
The Penguin Says “Till Next Time!” Well! That’s that, right? It’s hard to believe that classes are already over for the year, and summer plans are well and truly underway for many of us. It seems that every successive year goes by faster than the one previously! If you can manage it, take some time to slow down and take in all the goods we have in store for you in this–our last issue for the 2014-2015 school year. We have a special goodbye from our “biggest fan,” President Tony Woodcock, as well as some reflections from graduating students. Alex will impart some wisdom on communication, and although this is our “goodbye” issue for the year, we have two “hellos” from new Penguin writers–Umar and
Davey. Lastly, we reveal the winners of the Penguin Superlatives on Page 8. Check out the centerfold to see the winners! For many of us, it’ll be business as normal after the summer, returning to NEC for what promises to be another stimulating year, but for about 250 of us, it’ll be “SO LONG!” after Commencement on May 17th and on to new and exciting engagements. The Penguin, of course, will be back with an exciting orientation issue in August, conjured up by our fabulous new editor Andrew Port! Whatever your plans are, enjoy the summer and keep on keeping on. Best wishes from The Penguin!
penguin CULTURE Communication And Liberation
by ALEX STENING First-Year MM French Horn
ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF PIZZA Knock Knock!
soda, ready to explode at any moment. Every little bump
A rapping on the door brought us out of our trance, a
At times, we may all feel like a shaken up bottle of
adds up, sometimes causing an uncomfortable internal
state induced by speeding through a jungle, throwing bananas
pressure seeking an escape. It’s never fun to feel this way, and
and the inevitable blue shell as we raced in the Lightning Cup
containing this pressure for an extended period of time can
on Mario Kart-Wii. Finally Papa John’s pizza delivery arrived
lead the mind into a spiral of negative thinking. “Why can’t I
and I seemed to teleport to the front door.
get this right? … I must be no good … I’m a terrible person.”
It was that friendly Papa Johns
Learning to catch these
delivery guy. I didn’t know his name,
moments as we feel the pressure rise
but we ordered enough pizza to be
is a mindful practice that directs our
familiar with the delivery staff. This one
attention inwardly to see clearly how
always sported a genuine smile.
we’re feeling. After observing our
feelings, the next important step is to
With the warm pizza boxes
choose how to alleviate the internal
balanced on top of my left arm, my
pressure.
right hand juggled a two-liter root beer in a plastic bag hanging low to the
How about a chat?
tried closing it with my knee.
Just by talking with another
person, whether it’s a family member,
floor. It banged against the door as I
Then another bang as it
tumbled on the kitchen counter.
friend, or teacher, relieves us from PIZZA NOT MADE FROM PENGUINS!
We plopped the pizzas on the dinner table, not
any sour feelings. It’s a healthy way to reflect and learn from a situation, connect with others and strengthen a relationship.
bothering with plates. Four musicians rooming together who enjoy a night of food and video games after a hard week of
work instinctually gobbled down pizza at first sight. Then came
immediately feel when I reach out to people. There’s nothing to
the beverage.
lose or be shameful about. We are all part of a larger whole
and connected to every person on Earth. When one piece of
With little attention, I opened up the root beer and out
It always surprising to experience how much better I
the puzzle is damaged, the whole is affected. What we gain
erupted a sea of carbonated water and sugar like a broken
is more insight, a new perspective and a huge weight off our
fire hydrant. A loud hiss and a yelp at the moment of explosion
shoulders.
drew my roommates’ attention to the mess that flowed on the counter and beneath my feet...
By slowly turning the bottle cap with care, as it releases
a soothing sizzle, there will be no mess to clean.
2
MAY 11, 2015
How The Mandolin Led Me To NEC
by DAVEY HARRISON First-Year MM Mandolin
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CI LIFE
“What’s in the case, a ukulele?” This is a question all
helped me grow as a musician and refined my voice into a
mandolin players will encounter at some point in life. It’s
much more versatile instrument.
not always a ukulele. Sometimes mandolins are mistakenly called banjos, fiddles, or even balalaikas. At times it can
During a relatively rough transition as a freshman I
feel frustrating having to explain the differences between my
discovered a promotional video about NEC’s CI Department.
instrument and every other string instrument, but I don’t mind.
This five-minute overview made me very excited about and
It’s fun sharing my passion with anyone interested.
envious of the students in the video. I wanted to be a part of that world, but didn’t think for a second that I could get in. So
For those readers who have never had the chance to
I committed to becoming a professional classical singer.
see a mandolin up close and personal, I’ll give you the sales pitch I’ve developed over the years. It has the same tuning
as the violin: GDAE. Unlike the violin it has eight strings,
fit in with my peers in my department and I began to focus
but the strings are tuned in pairs. Instead of using a bow to
more and more on the mandolin. A few of my friends and I
create sound, mandolinists use a pick to pluck the strings.
formed a contemporary bluegrass band and started gigging
Its sound is very clear and has surprising volume for such a
around the area. Suddenly I felt the musical fulfillment I had
small instrument. To me the mandolin is incredible because of
been hoping to find in classical singing. We gained more
its versatility. You can hear it being played in bluegrass, folk,
and more popularity until we became a big part of the
Brazilian choro, jazz, rock, and every dog food commercial
conservatory’s culture, even getting the opportunity to play a
on TV.
concerto with the university’s orchestra.
The mandolin’s popularity continues to increase;
By my senior year of college, I felt burnt out. I didn’t
After graduation I did some much needed soul-
however, there are very few programs around the world
searching and knew that I at least had to try to get
where students can pursue playing it at the collegiate level.
my master’s degree in the CI Department. I made my
NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation (CI) Department is one
prescreening recording, collected my materials together,
of the few programs welcoming to mandolinists. As soon as I
and sent them to NEC. I said to myself, “It would be nice just
discovered CI I knew I wanted to be a part of the department.
to get an audition. If that happens I’ll be satisfied.” After I
I just needed some time to get here.
received my audition invitation I was ecstatic and nervous. My mom and I flew out to Boston in February for my audition.
As a high school senior I had an incredibly busy
The morning of auditions, I was so nervous I couldn’t eat.
schedule full of classes, play rehearsals, exams, and college
That day was incredibly stressful, but when I think of that time
visits. Though very busy, I enjoyed school and liked many
I remember all the amazing people I met. Their talents floored
subjects. This made it challenging for me to decide what path
me and I was just proud to be part of the group of potential
I wanted to take in college. Of all my interests, I knew music
students.
was my true passion. It was intimidating to consider a future in the arts, but my parents were incredibly encouraging and
I waited to hear from NEC for what felt like an
supportive. But NEC and CI were not on my radar as a high
eternity. When my acceptance email came I was speechless.
school student, so I decided to enroll at a conservatory closer
I eventually mouthed the sentence, “I got in.” In my previous
to home in Wisconsin.
fantasies about this moment, I always envisioned a sense of pride and achievement would be at the forefront of my
I had been playing mandolin for a few years at that
emotions. My acceptance email did make me proud and
point, but pursuing it as a college student seemed like an
happy, but my first thoughts after reading it were of all the
impossibility to me. Instead, I focused on my other passion in
people that I had met on audition day. I couldn’t wait to start
music: singing. During my undergraduate degree I trained as
making music with them.
a classical singer with a very knowledgeable professor. He
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3
penguin SUPERLATIVES HAPPIEST PERSON TO RUN INTO ON THE SIDEWALK
MOST LIKELY TO LIVE IN A PRACTICE ROOM
2-time winners!
4
Mary O’Keefe
ALL Trombones
PASSION FOR FASHION
PARTY CHAMPION
Andrew Nissen
Charmaine Lee
MAY 11, 2015
After an extensive and grueling nomination / voting process, these eight NEC students have emerged victorious. Give them a high f ive next time you spot them in the hallway!
MOST HILARIOUS
MOST LIKELY TO COMPLETE HOMEWORK ON TIME
(Also the 2015 Commencement speaker!)
Allie Simpson
Will Bridges III
MOST LIKELY TO BE SPOTTED ON A COFFEE RUN
BEST NON-MUSICAL TALENT
(Art)
John Diodati
Travis Bliss WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
5
Greetings From New Zealand
by UMAR ZAKARIA First-Year MM Jazz Bass
AN INTRODUCTION FROM THE ‘PANTS KING’
It’s well known that New Zealand is a beautiful country. You
a leftover garage door made of corrugated iron that lead
may have heard of Lord of the Rings, Flight of the Conchords,
outside. It looked like a prison, and it felt like one too.
and if you’ve ever eaten lamb and liked it, it’s probably from New Zealand. It’s not a perfect country by any means, but it
For a long time, I felt that I had to measure up to
is certainly one of the most beautiful places on earth.
classical musicians, that I had to prove that I was just as deserving of respect. I certainly felt this when it came to
Perhaps I should also mention the scenery?
funding, but I also had a feeling of low self esteem whenever I participated in the National Youth Orchestra in New
When you run into people you know in New
Zealand, even though there was no real reason for that and
Zealand, you never ignore them. You always say hi, at least.
I don’t think any of the orchestra members thought any less
When I arrived in Boston I soon found that this was not the
of me. In fact, looking back, some people thought that my
norm. At first, I thought that people disliked me, and I also felt
involvement in jazz was something really cool and yet, at
like an incredibly rude person when I found myself doing it to
least for as long as I was wearing a bow tie, I would not
others. I’m used to it now but even so, I feel a certain sense of
allow myself to believe that.
guilt for realizing that.
My bachelor’s degree is from the New Zealand
My own personal insecurities aside, another result of
this environment is that a lot of jazz projects are constructed
School of Music in Wellington. They had a jazz program
that incorporate elements of classical music, or involve
as well as a classical program, but the campuses were in
classical musicians in performance. One example is “Mantis:
different places. To make up for this, the school organized
The Music of Drew Menzies”, which is a CD by NZ drummer
combined performance workshops, which all performance
Reuben Bradley released in 2013.
students had to attend regardless of major. These were basically concerts that included both jazz and classical
It features the New Zealand String Quartet playing
performances. As a result, we now have a really great open
arrangements by John Psathas who, among other things,
attitude and dialogue happening between young jazz and
wrote music for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Drew
classical musicians in Wellington who are, or recently were,
Menzies was a jazz bassist and a good friend of Reuben’s
in university.
who unfortunately lost his life too soon, but he was also a great classical bassist and a member of the New Zealand
At the organizational level, more work still needs
Symphony Orchestra. You can imagine how that might
to be done. There are countless more scholarships reserved
have made a pretty strong funding application for a jazz
for New Zealand’s classical performers and students of
project. This year, I’m looking forward to attending a concert
composition than for jazz performers. Although some
featuring the Wellington Jazz Orchestra with soloist Michael
jazz projects get support, money from arts funding bodies
Houstoun, one of New Zealand’s leading (classical) concert
generally goes to established classical projects. There is a
pianists.
certain feeling of reluctance to accept jazz as a ‘serious’ music, or at least there was during my undergraduate years.
I don’t think this is a bad outcome. I think it is
In some ways, that’s actually a good thing, but not financially.
actually quite beautiful that such a conversation has arisen in Wellington, even though the circumstances that shaped it are
This attitude showed in the difference in facilities we
had. The classical school did not have amazing facilities, and
less than ideal and still something I will try to change. It has certainly shaped who I am and what I do as a musician.
they had fewer practice rooms than we did, but at least their school was more than a square corridor of white washed
walls. Ours seemed to be re-fashioned out of what was
Jazz Day concert has its roots in this conversation – it is
formerly a mechanic’s school. In one room, there was even
a piece I wrote to open the first combined performance
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MAY 11, 2015
The piece I put forward for the UNESCO International
workshop in 2012, that would show everybody the possibility
to offer the world. Hopefully, you’ll be hearing a lot more from
of jazz students and classical students playing together. It is
me about this topic in the coming semesters.
certainly not the first piece of its kind, even in New Zealand, but I think it was important for us at the NZSM to see that
I come to the New England Conservatory with my
performance and finally realize that connection that had been
ears and eyes open. I am here to learn as much as I can,
the whole point of those combined events, however briefly.
from as many people as I can. So far, each person that I have met at this school has left an outstanding impression on me.
For me personally, there have been two great
You are all very special.
takeaways from this experience. The first of these is that I began a wonderful journey of collaboration across musical
traditions. I think the fact that two groups of people from
that we forget what it means. What I mean is this: each of
different backgrounds, different historical contexts and with
us has beautiful and important things to say, and I really
different understandings of the worlds within and outside of
believe that we have a responsibility to share those things
themselves, are able to come together and make beautiful
with each other. I am looking forward to sharing with all of
music can teach us something about how we might learn to
you the perspectives that have been shaped by my unique
create an environment of communication and cooperation
circumstances and life experiences, and I especially look
across ideological boundaries, of which have always been
forward to hearing about yours. I hope you’ll come say hi to
many.
me, and let me know what you thought of this piece.
The second is that, in order to continue being a
musician, both in financial and spiritual terms, I had to really
Sometimes I wonder if we hear this word so often
P.S. If you have trouble finding me, I have been
previously been referred to as the ‘Pants King’ ;)
think about why music is important, and what musicians have
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7
2014-2015: A YEAR IN REVIEW BY NICK TISHERMAN
It’s been a big year here at NEC. Give yourself a pat on the back for putting in massive amounts of care, time, and effort into your craft, and take a look at some of the highlights from the news around school and around the world.
PATS WIN
TONY
The New England Patriots once again hoist the Lombardi Trophy as the winners of Super Bowl XLIX, coming back from 10 points down to win the franchise’s fourth ring (kind of like Wagner?). Fun Fact: Boston teams have won a championship every year ever since the class of 2017 arrived at NEC.
President Tony Woodcock’s announcement comes in, informing the community that he will step down from his post at the end of the year. Tom Novak to step in as the interim president for the 201516 school year.
JOHN ZORN NEC presents John Zorn with an honorary doctorate. The composer, who boasts a body of composition that draws influence from rock, punk, classical, klezmer, film, and improvised music, prompts a performance of his game piece “Cobra.”
WAGNER Robert Spano leads the Philharmonia through the third act of Wagner’s Die Walküre with opera gods Greer Grimsley as Wotan and NEC’s own Jane Eaglen as Brünhilde. The epic night in Valhalla to be just one jewel in the treasure trove of Philharmonia concerts this year.
SLPC May 5th marks the official groundbreaking for the new Student Life and Performance Center. A heartfelt goodbye to St. Botolph 113, but a warm hello to a new facility!
8
MAY 11, 2015
CUBA President Obama restores diplomatic relations with Cuba, opening up trade and travel.
EBOLA OUTBREAK
WINNERS In Mo Yang George Li Taeguk Mun Elmer Churampi Luke Hsu Robert Anemone Kenny Lee
The U.S. held its breath and stepped up travel restrictions as the first case of Ebola was confirmed on our shores. The World Health Organization’s Margaret Chan calls it “the most severe acute public health emergency in modern times.” (NY Times)
among winners representing NEC in competitions across the country.
WINTER
OPERA
The snow just keeps coming, blanketing Boston in a record 108.6 inches. THAT’S OVER FOUR OBOES WORTH OF SNOW. The T shuts down and NEC cancels five full days of classes. Here’s hoping for a more mild winter in 2016.
NEC puts on productions of favorites The Magic Flute, Cosi fan Tutte, as well as Poulenc’s partially snowed-out Dialogues of the Carmelites, Britten’s Albert Herring, and Menotti’s The Consul. It’s been quite a year for the vocal arts at NEC.
#BLACKLLIVESMATTER Unrest in America as frustration with raciallycharged police brutality erupts in violence in Ferguson, MO, and Baltimore, MD. Stories of violence against black individuals flood the news, forcing us as a nation to take a step back, realize that we do not live in a postracial society, and figure out a way as to improve.
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
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penguin SPOTLIGHT As the school year comes to a close, five graduating students have taken time to reflect on their different and unique experiences at NEC. On May 17th they, along with 240 other graduating students will walk across the stage at Jordan Hall one last time to receive their degrees. Join them in reliving some fond memories from the last few years!
Opportunities Knock
by FRANKIE YU Second-Year MM Trombone
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OFFERS
There are a few small wisdoms that I do my best to live
Three years ago I was asked if I wanted to go
by. One of my favorites is this: When presented with the
skydiving because there was, “a discount and it would never
opportunity, do your best to try something new.
be this cheap again.” “Well”, I thought, “I guess I have always talked about being a bit more adventurous … ” And it was an
As I’m sure most of you know, this is not always
unparalleled experience! Each experience I went through, and
an easy task. I, as many of you, like my routine. I like the
each one that I went through since then, I learned more about
way I do certain things a certain way at certain times, and
myself, I pushed my limits, and I left my comfort zone. I try to
I am completely happy with what I’m doing and how I’m
take the word “no” out of my vocabulary … at least where it
doing them. So when I catch myself in this bit of a rut, I not
should be taken out of anyway.
only try and make myself try new things, but to also see the importance of doing so. To do something you have never
And when I was approached by a certain editor of a
done before is kind of like soul searching, it helps you learn
certain school publication to see if I was interested in writing
new things about yourself. You figure out what you like and
an article for the first issue of the 2014-2015 school year, it
what you don’t like, how far you are willing to push yourself
was an opportunity that had always been on my mind but one
in situations where you feel uncomfortable—what you can and
that I had consistently put off. I never had much faith in my
cannot handle. Often times I think we surprise ourselves with
writing abilities, but instead of hiding behind my normal shy
how far we are actually willing to go. And it is only through
excuses, I took the jump. Eight articles later, here I sit writing
the action of trying that we find out these things.
you my last article. It has been a great adventure putting my thoughts and personal experiences into words and sharing
Living with this little mantra in my mind has lead me
them with all of you readers.
to experiencing some pretty cool things in the past couple of years. In high school someone ordered tarantula at a
My parting advice is predictable: try something
restaurant and when the plate was passed around to me, the
new as often as possible! You could start small by, say …
excuse of “because it’s gross” didn’t seem adequate enough to
writing for your school newspaper and seeing where new
chicken out of trying it, so I did. And it was good!
opportunities arise.
My experience at NEC was indescribable because of the warm learning environment, encouraging teachers, enthusiastic students, and wonderful opportunities. - Alex Gilliam 10
MAY 11, 2015
Incremental Changes
by ANDREW NISSEN Second-Year GD Trombone
AN ODE TO THE SMALL THINGS
Goodbyes are strange. They are, at least to me, never quite
satisfying. It’s like your new favorite Netflix binge-watch show
first week at school, the then-editor hosted a party boasting a
– the mystery at the beginning is what draws you in, entices
free dinner and hey, who wouldn’t be enticed by that?! There
you. Somehow the wrap-up of that mystery – (SPOILER ALERT!)
was a caveat, however; in order to earn the dinner you had to
they were dead all along, it was all a dream, they all live
bring along one idea for an article in The Penguin that year.
happily ever after – is never fully satiating.
My idea must have been half-hearted, because I can’t recall
for the life of me what it was about, but nonetheless it was
Could it be, then, that we expect too much from
endings? Do we have unrealistic expectations for how things
I fell into writing for The Penguin by accident. In my
convincing enough for the editor to urge me to bring that idea to fruition.
are “supposed” to be? Perhaps. After all, it’s been said before that the destination is not the important part, but the journey is.
Fitting, then, is the phrase touted by trombone guru and NEC
playing a big orchestra concert) I pressed “send” on an email
faculty Norman Bolter “Wherever you go, there you are.”
a week or two later containing my first contribution to the
newspaper for that year. And when the paper came out, the
You’re here, now. You’re graduating. You’re reading
Equal parts terrified and excited (kind of like before
world didn’t end. In fact, it was kind of cool to see something
this article. You’re enjoying the much-deserved sun on a much-
I’d done without a trombone in my hands out in the public for
delayed Boston spring day. You’re at NEC! And what a “you”
people to see!
you are. You’re more “you” than there ever has been a you before in the history of the “you”-niverse. OK, that was cheesy.
It’s not groundbreaking or revolutionary, but it doesn’t
But it’s true, in a way.
have to be. It’s natural that, as artists, we continually strive to best the best we can be at all times, but just because you
Everyone has a story to tell, not the least of those
“can’t be the best at everything” doesn’t mean you can’t strive
people called musicians. Music speaks something to us
for the acceptable, applaud the mediocre, or celebrate the
deeply on a personal level that makes us want to shout it out
mundane along the way!
to everyone around us at every opportunity. Performing isn’t the only way to do that, of course, and being the loudest in
Nothing we do pops into existence fully formed
the room isn’t the only way to get someone to hear you. If I
and perfect. Much of our favorite things take shape like the
learned anything during my time at NEC, it was this.
snowball effect – start small, build on success. Start small – like with an idea. Press send. Build upon that.
Our Time At NEC
by EVELYN & PAOLA MOLINA Second-Year MM Guitar
A REMINISENCE
Two years ago, my twin sister and I arrived in Boston from
Community at a variety of venues. The experience has been
Guatemala, carrying the highest expectation of becoming
heartwarming and priceless, as has the opportunity to spread
masters of the classical guitar. We were very excited about
music to young generations through [Music in Education] MIE
joining Eliot Fisk’s guitar studio. His amazing teaching,
internships, which is such a promising effort.
kindness and support has made these two years at NEC, a unique and unforgettable life-learning experience
It is surely very gratifying to achieve the Master’s in
Music degree with the MIE concentration. In May 2015, our
At NEC, we learned from great musicians who
dream of M.M. becamea reality, and we feel very proud of
inspired us through their love and passion for teaching music.
being NEC graduates! Now a new path to go together, as
In the Fall of 2013 we joined the CPP with a Performance
The Molina Twins.
Fellowship which allowed us to share guitar music in Boston’s
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11
penguin PHOTOS
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MAY 11, 2015
Jonas Tarm has been taking photos in and around NEC for the past school year. His top picks here, he presents an insider’s view into the stuff that goes on outside the classroom here at school.
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
13
a special goodbye To The Students Of NEC
by TONY WOODCOCK NEC President
GOODBYE FROM OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT (AND BIGGEST FAN) As we approach Commencement and the end of the school
Hear Here! Programme. And I have looked with wonderment
year, I am saying farewell to NEC just as many of you
at the creation of professional opportunities that some of
graduating students will do on May 17. Like you, I am moving
our recent alumni have pulled out of thin air like A Far Cry,
into a new chapter of my life, which will provide I am sure as
AcousticaElectronica, and Dan Gabel’s Abeltones and High
many adventures as the last nearly 20 years in the States. As
Society Orchestra.
the poet Hermann Hesse once wrote: “In all beginnings dwells a magic force/For guarding us and helping us to live.” To a
In the last few months, I have had occasion to travel
considerable extent, we are all going to be engaging in a very
and listen to musicians from around the world, including
similar journey. Good fortune to us all.
the Guildhall School’s international Reflective Conservatoire Conference, which drew over 400 participants from every
Looking back over my eight years at NEC, I am
continent. From all corners, I have heard how the music world
extraordinarily proud of the Conservatory’s accomplishments
and the lives of musicians are undergoing great change.
and its current eminence. And you students—and your
And you, students and graduates, are going to be right in
teachers—are largely responsible for this distinction. It has
the middle of it. It will be you who have the responsibility to
given me great joy to observe your artistry, your collegiality,
lead the charge. You will be responsible for preserving the
your entrepreneurial savvy, and the importance you place on
essential, soul-affirming core of music that is a foundation of
being citizens of the world.
our civilization. You will have to guide music back to its central place in society from what is currently, sadly, a position on the
There have been so many performances and events
margins.
that I recall as intensely pleasurable and profoundly moving: the two Symphony Hall concerts by the Philharmonia and Hugh
For this, you will need to open yourselves to new
Wolff; the celebrations of our Jazz and CI 40th Anniversaries,
collaborations, new idioms, new cultures, new ways of
our “Evening in Valhalla” and opera productions such as Paul
presentation, new ways of teaching. You will need maximum
Bunyan, Turn of the Screw and our most recent Così fan tutte. I
flexibility of mind, versatility, willingness to dare, the ability
have also been thrilled to see the work of UGOS really develop
to strip yourselves bare of preconceptions and old habits. (It’s
in recent years and their production of Albert Herring in March
like moving out of a house, divesting oneself of most material
was stellar. The work of the Chamber Choir and Chorus has
things we possess and stepping out unencumbered but nearly
also really burgeoned into something of great quality.
naked—a process with which I am all too familiar at the moment .)
There have been other moments to cherish: the
extraordinary intimacy and passion of chamber music
performances by NEC musicians outside Brigham and
resilience in the face of failure, and endless resourcefulness.
Women’s hospital on the terrible days following the Boston
It is a battle worth fighting and about which I feel total
Marathon bombing; the poetry readings and dramatic
confidence in your ability to prevail. My warmest good wishes
performances by students in our Liberal Arts classes and
and affection to all of you.
the very impressive creative writing from our students in the
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MAY 11, 2015
For this, I wish you courage, a spirit of adventure,
The Penguin is run entirely by current students here at NEC. Its purpose is to give a voice, away from the stage, for any student who would like to get involved. If you would like to become a Penman and have your voice heard, get in touch with us!
Andrew Nissen
Alex Stening
Editor
Suzanne Hegland
Writer
Jonas Tarm
Faculty Editor
Photographer
Sophie Adickes
Nick Tisherman
Writer
Natalie Alper-Leroux
Writer
Liz Tobias
Writer
Writer
Sarah Atwood
Elizabeth Wendt
Writer
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