Alumni Spotlight: Kirsten Lamb ’15 MM
Kirsten Lamb is an award-winning double bassist, vocalist, and educator. As a sought-after collaborator and soloist, Kirsten has performed with a wide variety of musicians including John Zorn, The Ballroom Thieves, Theodore Bikel, The Klezmer Conservatory Band, and Gil Scott-Heron’s Midnight Band. She is an active member of Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band and Klezperanto and a former member of Cold Chocolate and the Kristen Ford Band. She has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center, National Sawdust, the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the National Women’s Music Festival, and has debuted material at the Massachusetts State House and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and The Stone in New York City.
An avid educator, Kirsten maintains a double bass studio in Greater Boston, has taught weekly residencies at Horizons for Homeless Children and the Brookline Early Education Program, and performs educational programs through Young Audiences of Massachusetts. She has served as a faculty member at summer festivals such as KlezKanada and New England Conservatory’s JazzLab, and is a frequent guest teaching artist and workshop leader at universities and grade schools.
Kirsten holds a Master of Music in Contemporary Musical Arts (formerly known as Contemporary Improvisation) from New England Conservatory where she was awarded the Gunther Schuller Medal upon graduation for “extraordinary contributions” to the school. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance and Ethnomusicology from Oberlin Conservatory.
On September 5, she joined fellow alumni Kristo Kondakçi ’13, ’15 MM and Stephanie Muñoz ’15 MM, ’17 GD on stage with NEC’s Provost Ben Sosland as a panelist for our 2023 Convocation Alumni Panel discussion.
Photos by Andrew Hurlbut
Why did you choose NEC?
I chose NEC for its Contemporary Musical Arts program - I liked that I could be relatively self-directed in what I studied and it gave me the ability to play different genres, instruments, and techniques.
What have you been up to since graduating from NEC? What projects have you been working on? Do you have any goals you are looking to accomplish?
I’m a full-time musician playing and singing in many ensembles, as well as freelancing and teaching. I also have a one year old who loves music and regularly comes to concerts, festivals, and on tour. A long term goal has been to complete a recording of original music.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at NEC?
In my first semester at NEC, I performed an original song during a masterclass with Elvis Costello and was able to speak directly with him about songwriting and performing. In my last semester, I worked with John Zorn, and then played with him several times again after graduating. Other highlights from my time at NEC include studying with a number of inspiring teachers and teaching through the Community Performances & Partnerships Program.
Share a story about one of your favorite faculty or studio instructors.
I worked with Cecil McBee for most of my time at NEC and we had a great dynamic. Our lessons were a mix of playing together, dissecting jazz feel, analyzing improvised bass lines, and sharing stories from his career. It deepened my approach to playing jazz bass, which I also carried into other playing styles.
How have your NEC experiences shaped your artistic approach?
I have a stronger sense of how to listen and contribute to music, which strengthened my own artistic vision as both a soloist and ensemble player. I also value teaching and bringing music into new communities. Being part of NEC’s CPP program made me a better educator - it connected me with teaching opportunities that I’ve continued since graduating.
Share any other stories about what has inspired you at NEC and beyond.
I loved working with so many amazing faculty members in lessons and ensembles. One of my favorite ensembles was the CMA honors ensemble. We worked closely with Ted Reichman and went on to win an award at the M-Prize Competition in 2016. I also regularly play professionally with Hankus Netsky ’76, ’78 MM and Mal Barsamian ’85, ’89 MM, both of whom I worked with at NEC. Additionally, after working so closely with Tanya Maggi and the CPP program as a student, I have invited current CPP fellows to visit my music classes as special guest teachers and performers. I appreciate that my former teachers and mentors have become my colleagues.
Do you have any advice for young musicians/current NEC students?
Be open to all kinds of performance and teaching opportunities, stay organized - especially with gig details and finances, and be kind.
Learn more about Kirsten
Current Job: Self-employed musician
Major: Contemporary Musical Arts (aka Contemporary Improvisation)
Degree: Master of Music
Class Year: 2015
Website: kirstenlambmusic.com