| Name | Years Studied from | Current Primary Activity(ies) | Education | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Whitfield | 1985 – 1987 | Software Engineering | NEC | MM |
| Tahirah Whittington | 1994 – 1998 | |||
| Joanna Wiebe | 2008 – 2012 | |||
| Tina Watts Williams | 1975 – 1977 | |||
| Michael Wiseman | 2004 – 2006 | |||
| Barbara Wood | 1995 – 1977 | |||
| Jacques Wood | 1998 – 2005 | Soloist, Chamber musician, teacher, composer, bluegrasser, | NEC | BM |
| Xiaojia Xu | 1998 – 1999 | |||
| Jiaoyang Xu | 2017 – 2019 | Freelance cellist | NEC | GD |
| Koji Yanagida | 1979 – 1980 | |||
| Joinatsuru Yanai | 2006 – 2014 | NEC | BM, MM, GD | |
| Julia Yang | 2012 – 2014 | Merz Trio | NEC | MM |
| Susie Yang | 2004 – 2006 | Kansas City Symphony Associate Principal Cello | NEC | MM |
| Ru-Pei Yeh | 1998 – 2002 | New York Philharmonic, section cello; Founder and director of Formosa Chamber Music Festival | NEC | BM |
| Zhou Yi | 2011 – 2014 | Freelance cellist and cello faculty at Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View. | NEC | MM, GD |
| Yeyoung Yoo | 2016 – 2018 | NEC | BM, MM | |
| Somi Yoon | 2009 – 2013 | Freelancer | NEC | BM |
| Davis You | 2020 – 2024 | BM at NEC | ||
| Rachel Young | 1989 – 1991 | cellist, National Symphony Orchestra, 21st Century Consort, Last Stand Quartet | NEC, Peabody | BM, MM |
| Matthew Zalkind | 2013 – 2013 | Professor at the University of Denver | NEC | GD |
| Sofia Zappi | 1989 – 1995 | Preop RN at UFHealth. Climbing, biking, running, dancing, cooking, reggae concerts, in no particular order. | NEC, WHS | BM, MM |
| Brian Zhao | 2015 – 2020 | 5th Year Harvard/NEC | NEC/Harvard | MM |
| Aihao Zheng | 2018 – 2019 | NEC | MM |