SWEET MUSIC CAREER ACCELERANT

The mission of Berklee's Career Development Center is to provide expert guidance, leading-edge resources and professional development experiences to a diverse student body for the achievement of students' music career-related goals. Its overall focus is on music career management rather than a one-time job link. Students can get one-on-one advising, tap into its vast library of resources, attend job recruitment events, connect with alumni through the Berklee Career Network and participate in numerous career-building workshops.

At the beginning of February 2009, Berklee was approached (via Jim Odgren) about the possibility of hosting a "Jazz Talent Search".  Compass Management UK, in conjunction with Universal Records UK wanted to put together a "hip, young jazz band" fronted by two singers (one male, one female).  The band would have the full backing of Universal and would spend this summer in London recording an album and then touring in the fall in support of the album.

The Career Development Center coordinated auditions through Compass Management.  A large number of Berklee students submitted their audition materials to Compass Management.  After reviewing said materials, Compass Management selected ~40 students for the first round, which occurred March 28th - March 29th. After Compass Management flew-in to Boston and auditioned those students, they selected 7 Berklee students for a second and final round of auditions which occurred when they flew-in April 18th - April 19th.  During the second round, the A&R rep (Tom Lewis) from Universal Records UK was also present.

Ultimately, three Berklee students were selected to be members of this seven member group!  They are:

   Jeffrey Fajardo - drums

         Matthias Minquet - guitar

         Manami Morita - piano

The band will be called "The New Capitols" and their website is going to be www.thenewcapitols.com (it's not live, yet).  They will be blogging, tweeting, etc. their experience.

BTW, Compass went to other colleges here in the US for auditions but none were as successful or included as many final candidates as Berklee. This college rocks (and scats) - around the world!

-Peter Spellman, Director, The Career Development Center