The New School of Music opens the 50th anniversary year of its founding Sunday with a birthday celebration at its longtime home, the former Lowell School in West Cambridge. Part of a series of 50 free, public events over the next year, the party will bring together current and former students, faculty and supporters who have all contributed to the half-century legacy of the school and its mission to make music education accessible to all Cantabrigians.
The New School of Music was founded in 1977 by Nicholas Van Slyck, a composer, conductor and musician who had enjoyed a long career in the Boston area, and especially at the Longy School of Music. Van Slyck believed strongly that access to high-quality music education and performance opportunities should be available to all regardless of income or geography. The conservatory model that had long dominated the music landscape consisted of an increasingly rigorous curriculum that only a select few could study on their way to a career as a professional, classically trained musician. The majority of children who started a formal music program were not able to continue because of the increase in time, money and virtuoso talent needed to pursue music as a career. There was little space for those who wished to learn and perform music for their own pleasure, and creating such a space was Van Slyck’s vision in founding NSM.
The 1970s was a time of significant shifts in the field of music education; on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement and other movements for social and racial justice, those in leadership and at the grassroots level began to push for a democratization of music. Seeking to widen the scope of what types of music was considered worthy to be studied, teachers began to offer instruction in a wide variety of musical genres and countries of origin. They wrestled with the barriers to access due to income and to the lack of programs in certain neighborhoods and sought to break down those barriers by offering high-quality, local programs at little or no cost to participants.
From its beginning, the school embraced the vision of accessible opportunities to learn and perform music that challenged the idea that only one kind of music was worth studying and that music programs must always lead to a professional career. Throughout its history, the school has viewed music not only as an art in its own right, but as a means of convening people and forming deep connections within and across the Cambridge community. Anne Riesenfeld, its executive director, believes the school’s vibrancy as an institution is rooted in its diversity, and in the power of people from many different backgrounds making music together:
“NSM is a magical space with 50 years dedicated to one of life’s most profound art forms. For decades, people of all ages and abilities have stepped into our building seeking beauty, personal expression and community, all through the timeless language of music. I still find it remarkable to watch a 7-year-old play with total abandon in one room, while in the next room, someone who just retired might sit down to an instrument for the very first time; both equally brave, both equally welcome. I am incredibly grateful to our faculty, students, and now, generations of families who choose to make NSM their musical home.”
Over the past 50 years, the school has educated thousands of students, partnering with the city of Cambridge and with other nonprofits to offer lessons, classes and performance opportunities to Cantabrigians of all ages, from all neighborhoods, and at all income levels. As it enters its half-century year of celebration, NSM remains committed to sharing music throughout the city as a means of sharing culture and strengthening the bonds of community. All are welcome at the Sunday birthday celebration, which will include music, cake and historic games from History Cambridge.
History Cambridge started in 1905 as the Cambridge Historical Society. Today we have a new name and a new mission. We engage with our city to explore how the past influences the present to shape a better future. We recognize that every person in our city knows something about Cambridge’s history, and their knowledge matters. We listen to our community and we live by the ideal that history belongs to everyone. Throughout 2026, we are focusing on the history of West Cambridge. Make history with us at historycambridge.org.
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