“Music has been good to me.” 

 NEC’s faculty is a strong, committed community of educators who invest their time, talent and expertise in our students.  Fenwick Smith was no exception.  During his distinguished tenure at NEC, he was a devoted studio instructor and chamber music coach.  In 2001, he received the Laurence Lesser Award for excellence in teaching.  Mr. Smith’s annual Jordan Hall faculty recital was widely acknowledged as the start of Boston’s fall concert season.

“As a Quaker, Fenwick lived a very simple life,” said Janet Corpus, a long-time friend. His gift to NEC attests to both the simplicity of his life and his generosity.  When planning his gift to NEC, Mr. Smith told Corpus, “Music has been good to me.”  

“Fenwick’s gift was a way of giving back to the art, profession, colleagues and institution that were so much a part of his rich experience,” she said.

Mr. Smith’s gift will continue his legacy of musical excellence.  Providing unrestricted support to NEC, it will enable current and future students to pursue that same excellence in their musical careers.

NEC will continue to celebrate Mr. Smith’s extraordinary musicianship every September with the annual Fenwick Smith Tribute Concert. We are sincerely grateful for his many contributions to NEC and the incredible impact his gift will have on the NEC community for years to come. 

Top