Vanessa Trien

Head Start & Children's Services

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Vanessa Trien is the Director of Early Childhood Education at New England Conservatory, where she leads NEC’s partnership with ABCD Head Start and the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Early Childhood. Since 2023, she has designed and overseen weekly music classes for approximately 30 infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms at ABCD’s Dorchester, Bradshaw, Mattapan, and Savin locations.

 

Now in its fourth year, the partnership has grown to include professional development for classroom educators, family music resources and gatherings, and musical storytelling visits from NEC college musicians. Vanessa loves spending time at the ABCD centers, building relationships with administrators and teachers, and witnessing the many ways young children sing, move, play, listen, and grow through music. “I have established some trusting, great relationships with the ABCD Head Start administrators and teachers,” she says.

 

A longtime early childhood music educator, children’s songwriter, and performer with Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys, Vanessa believes that every child is musical and deserves access to joyful, high-quality music experiences. She lives in Brookline with her husband and loves spending time with their two children, playing guitar, learning banjo, and walking with their dog, Sunny.

 

Vanessa accepts this honor on behalf of NEC and the many educators, musicians, partners, and supporters who bring this work to life. She is especially grateful to the anonymous donor whose vision and generosity made the program possible.

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