New England Conservatory has made several announcements regarding its Institute for Concert Artists.

The program, which was launched during 2024–25 has unveiled the returning artists in their final year of study. These artists include soprano Dani Jingdan Zhang, violinist Joshua Brown, and pianist Yunchan Lim, and each of them will complete the Artist Diploma.

The institute also announced that pianist Clayton Stephenson will the roster as a new ICA Artist Diploma candidate.

“The Institute for Concert Artists is unlike any other program,” pianist and ICA Advisor Gloria Chien said per an official press release. “Beyond exceptional training from NEC’s esteemed faculty, Joshua, Yunchan, Dani, and Clayton are supported through individually tailored mentorship, professional-development tools, meaningful connections, and performance opportunities. The ICA serves as an artistic home for these extraordinary young musicians and empowers them to step confidently onto the global stage.”

The Institute’s Advisory Council features Robert Ainsley, Leif Ove Andsnes, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Hilary Hahn, Anthony McGill, Aoife O’Donovan, and Abhijit Sengupta.

ICA performers appear regularly at NEC’s Jordan Hall through the Concert Artists Series and annual showcase events in New York and Boston. The 2026 showcases are scheduled for Feb. 9 at Steinway Hall in New York City and Apr. 1 at Jordan Hall, with the Boston concert broadcast live on The Violin Channel.

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