ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Meet our 2024 Commencement Alumni Speaker and Marshals!
Alumni play an important role in NEC's Commencement ceremonies. Each year alumni from reunion classes are invited to represent the alumni community by serving as alumni marshals and speakers at Commencement.
For this year’s commencement ceremony, alumna Lina Gonzalez-Granados ’14 MM, ’15 GD will be welcoming graduates to the alumni community as our Alumni Speaker. Fredericka King ’74 MM and Grant Langford ’99 will serve as Alumni Marshals, leading the procession.
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Lina Gonzalez-Granados '14 MM, '15 GD
Alumni Speaker
Lina Gonzalez-Granados is an internationally renowned conductor. She was recently appointed Resident Conductor by the L.A. Opera through June 2025. After winning the Fourth Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition, Lina was named the Solti Conducting Apprentice, and served as the assistant to Maestro Riccardo Muti, until June 2023. Her achievements also earned her a spot on Bloomberg Línea's list of the 100 Influential Latinos of 2022.
Lina received a Master of Music in Wind Ensemble Conducting in 2014 and a Graduate Diploma in Choral Conducting in 2015 from New England Conservatory. She is celebrating her 10th anniversary as an NEC alumna.
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Fredericka King ’74 MM
Alumni Marshal
Fredericka King's piano recitals have been lauded by many critics and audiences. The New York Times once complimented her debut performance at Carnegie Recital Hall for its "straightforward style and verve."
Fredericka has performed in the United States, Europe, and South America, and was the featured artist on television and public radio stations including WGBH in Boston, WVPR in Vermont, and WGMS in Washington, D.C.
Fredericka received her Master of Music in Piano Performance in 1974 from New England Conservatory, and is celebrating her 50th anniversary as an NEC alumna.
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Grant Langford ’99
Alumni Marshal
Grant Langford is a jazz saxophonist who currently lives in the Washington, DC area. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, he spent 8 years immersed in the New York City jazz scene.
In 2005, Grant joined the Count Basie Orchestra touring extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. During his 3 year tenure he was featured on 3 recordings with Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, and Jamie Cullum.
In 2008, Grant joined the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force, where he has remained for 15 years. Alongside his active duty military service, he performs and teaches in the Washington, DC region. Grant is celebrating his 25th anniversary as an NEC alumnus.
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