Auditions and Interviews in France for all of Europe

We have a team from Berklee currently doing auditions and interviews (A&I) in Paris at the moment. A quick look at the schedule shows that over three days, students from over 20 countries will participate in this program. Our commitment to attracting outstanding artists and creators from around the world continues and we are thrilled, not only by the diversity of the students who come to A&I, but also by the top level commitment and ability they demonstrate. Some of the countries represented include:

France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Latvia, Poland, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Portugal, Reunion Island...and more.

As we continue to strive towards our vision for 2015 below, our week in Paris tells us that we're on the right track.

From the Berklee website:

"Berklee will be the world's leading institute of contemporary music. Attracting diverse and talented students passionate about careers in music, we will offer a relevant and distinctive curriculum in music and liberal arts. We will engage an unparalleled faculty of inspiring educators and cutting-edge industry professionals, provide state-of-the-art facilities for learning and living, and produce tomorrow's leaders of the global music community"

Berklee Dominates Thelonious Monk Institute Selections

A recent article concerning the elite Monk Institute drives home the quality of the Berklee experience. The killer quote:

In fact, all but one of the students, saxophonist Marantz attended the well-known Boston academy.

“That’s starting to be a trend,” Blanchard says with a laugh about the abundance of Berklee graduates. He points out that the selection of students is made through “blind auditions.” “I guess it’s a testament to what’s been happening at Berklee or that the word is out more there than at other schools.

For more information on the Monk Institute, click here.

Berklee's Annual High School Jazz Festival March 13, 2010

Our annual jazz festival, the largest of its kind in the United States is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2010. You can find out more here at the homepage for the event.

Department of Education Simplifies the FAFSA

The financial aid form for Federal aid has often been described as too complex. The government recently announced some significant changes and improvements. You can learn more, here.

New York City Berklee Auditions January 23 - 26, 2010

We'll have our annual 4 days of auditions in NYC this month (January 23 - 26) and lots of other places in the months ahead! Details on the audition process can be found here: http://www.berklee.edu/admissions/general/audition_dates.html

Berklee President Roger Brown's Statement On Haiti

A Message from President Roger H. Brown


We are deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake and the tragic loss of life that has stricken Haiti. We are contacting the Berklee students who are from Haiti to see if we can be of direct assistance. We know the tragedy has touched at least one of our students, whose mother is missing; he is currently there trying to find her. If you learn of others affected, please let the Office of Student Affairs know so we can offer those students support and help.

As you may know, Wyclef Jean is also currently enrolled as a student, and we have made a donation on behalf of the whole college to the Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund, which is now a part of Wyclef's Haitian charity organization.

Many of you know that we collaborated with Mercy Corps during the Darfur relief effort, and that my wife Linda Mason serves as chairman of their board of directors. I enclose the links to both Yéle and Mercy Corps in the event that you would like to help directly. Finally, we are in the process of pulling together a benefit event to raise money for Haitian relief.

We send our thoughts and prayers to Haiti, and on behalf of all Haitians hope that the focus on this crisis remains strong for the long months ahead.

Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund: yele.org
Mercy Corps: mercycorps.org

Yours,


Roger H. Brown
President

Welcome Entering Students - Spring 2010!

We're very excited to welcome almost 350 new students from around the US and the world who are entering this term. Classes start next week but in the meantime, don't forget to check out the Orientation webpage that has a lot of great information for you: http://www.berklee.edu/orientation/orientation_spring.html