Community Performances & Partnerships

A recognized trailblazer, NEC's Community Performances and Partnerships Program is one of the premier programs in the nation for engaging conservatory students with their community through robust, meaningful partnership activities and high quality training.

CPP interacts annually with close to 15,000 people through over 600 events that reach across ages, neighborhoods, ethnicities, and economic disparities in the city of Boston and beyond.

CPP simultaneously provides NEC students with a crucial opportunity to explore what it means to be a musician living in and contributing to community life, within an atmosphere of supportive mentoring, professional development, and experiential learning.

What We Do

Being a CPP Fellow for the past two years has shown me repeatedly that music is not meant only for big stages and concert halls but that it can also have a profound impact on the communities right around us. It has widened my view of what is possible in a career in music!

Evelyn Song‘23 GD (Community Fellow 2022-2023)

String Quartet outside of Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association

There is never enough music to spread to all the places and people that yearn for it. I hope I can be one more person who can help fill that void while using the technical skills I’ve learned in school so that I can bring a little bit of peace and healing to the community.

June Chung‘24 MM (Ensemble Fellow 2022-2023)

Lishan Tan playing harp outside in a park.

To be able to bring a smile to someone's face or to help them momentarily forget about whatever pain or illness they might be going through, it is moments like these that make me continue serving the community.

Lishan Tan‘24 DMA (Community Fellow 2022-2023)

Jennifer and Lingbo performing at Cadbury Commons

For our residents, compromised older adults, attending performances of high quality music is important for their overall well-being. NEC's providing performers to us throughout the year is extraordinarily helpful for our residents' cognitive functioning and emotional health.

Brian BunnellDirector of Community Programs at Cadbury Commons

Thank you for another great school year of musical presentations. You bring so many excellent musical and academic learning opportunities, stories, conversations and joy!

Gregg BodellMusic Teacher at Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School

Great music goes everywhere.

A flutist plays for a classroom full of eager listeners

Want to get involved with CPP?

Learn more.

Join us!

Want to see and hear us in action? While the majority of NEC’s community programming takes place in partnership sites that are not open to the public (such as schools, senior care facilities, hospitals), we are delighted to invite you to our public programs.

All programs listed here are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. We hope to see you around town!

Featured Events

Thu, December 14, 2023 | 2:00pm

CPP Holiday String Quartet at the Boston Public Library

Sat, December 16, 2023 | 11:00am

Holiday Jazz Quintet at the Boston Public Market

View Concert Calendar