• Percussion Ensemble
• NEC Jazz Orchestra
• Jazz Ensembles

NEC Percussion Ensemble performs twice a year in Jordan Hall and makes appearances throughout Boston. The repertoire has included premieres of works by Irwin Bazelon, Christopher Rouse, Tibor Pusztai, John Harbison, Stanley Leonard, James Hoffmann, Edward Cohen, and James Yannatos. Guest artists appear frequently with the ensemble, and there are opportunities for solo performances. The ensemble is open to all percussionists.

NEC Jazz Orchestra performs classic and contemporary big band music. The band performs under the direction of such prominent musicians as Maria Schneider, Sam Rivers, Muhal Richard Abrams, John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, Gunther Schuller, Gil Evans, Gerald Wilson, and Randy Weston. The ensemble has won critical acclaim for its recordings and for its performances throughout the country. The Jazz Orchestra is open by audition to all NEC students.

Small ensembles, coached by Improvisation/Jazz Studies department faculty, perform traditional and contemporary instrumental and vocal jazz repertoire.

Ensembles are coached by faculty members George Russell, John McNeil, George Garzone, Cecil McBee, Jerry Bergonzi, Danilo Perez, Allan Chase, Dominique Eade, and others. The ensembles perform two or more times a year.