Laurence Lesser

Laurence Lesser serves as Professor of Cello in the Strings Department at New England Conservatory (NEC), where he has been faculty since 1974. He held the presidency from 1983-1996 and served as Acting President during 2005-2006, while continuing to curate the First Monday at Jordan Hall concert series since 1985—significantly shaping Boston's chamber music landscape.

His educational foundation includes an AB from Harvard College and studies with Gregor Piatigorsky at the University of Southern California, complemented by a Fulbright Scholarship. These experiences established his trajectory in performance and pedagogy.

Lesser's artistic identity centers on cello performance across classical and contemporary genres, demonstrated through premieres like Menotti's Fantasia (1976) and the comprehensive Beethoven cello-piano recordings (2010). His work bridges historical interpretation with new music advocacy, frequently engaging with orchestras like the BSO and London Philharmonic.

His performance scholarship manifests primarily through landmark recordings rather than traditional publications, with the 2010 Beethoven project representing a definitive contribution to core cello repertoire documentation through its multi-format approach.

Major recognitions include:

• Fourth prize, Tchaikovsky Competition (1966)
• Chevalier du Violoncelle award (2005)
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellowship (1994)
• Naumburg Chair in Music
• Fulbright Scholarship

Supported by Ford Foundation and Fulbright grants, Lesser mentors NEC cello students across collegiate and preparatory divisions while driving chamber music initiatives. His leadership extends to artistic direction of concert series and festival collaborations, maintaining active performance ties with institutions like the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

He sustains professional engagement through board membership with Music for Food and ongoing festival appearances at Marlboro, Spoleto, and Santa Fe, demonstrating enduring commitment to both performance practice and musical community building.