Hittin' the Road
Berklee in Puerto Rico reached an amazing climax with 20 students receiving scholarships for online classes, summer performance programs, and full-time enrollment. Benny Batista of Joe Colon Studio From the left: Students Alex Gasser, Josh Shpak, Noam Israeli, and Yoav Eshed taught and performed during the two-week Jazz in Medellín program held in Medellín and Pereira, Colombia. Colombo Americano The student group Cluttered Clarity toured Europe with support from the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg and Berklee. The group, featuring Ben Konen (vibes), Jernej Bervar (guitar), Mark Minoogian (bass), Samson Mengsteab (piano), Brett White (alto sax) and Chong Jim Kam (drums) performed at several jazz festivals and at a reception at the home of the U.S. ambassador in Luxembourg.
There was a time in the world of education when summer meant taking a break, especially from the fast-paced environment at Berklee. But in recent years, this hasn’t been the case. The college now holds 17 summer programs at the Boston campus and programs at the Valencia campus. Additionally, we have special programs in San Juan, PR; Los Angeles, CA; and Perugia, Italy. Our faculty members and students are active in other locations as well.
More than ever, Berklee students are being selected for and creating their own opportunities to go out on the road. Often they creatively combine their abilities as performers with their skills as presenters. In some cases, they are selected to participate in world-class competitions. This summer exceptionally talented students traveled to locations in Europe and Latin America to perform, teach, and compete.
Bassist Alex Gasser, trumpeter Josh Shpak, drummer Noam Israeli, and guitarist Yoav Eshed represented Berklee for the two-week Jazz in Medellín program teaching young musicians in Medellín and Pereira, Colombia, in addition to several concerts. Gasser came to Berklee through the Berklee in Puerto Rico programs. Israeli and Eshed came to Berklee from our partner institution, Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Vibraphonist and composer Ben Konen led his group Cluttered Clarity, featuring Jernej Bervar (guitar), Mark Minoogian (bass), Samson Mengsteab (piano), Brett White (alto sax) and Chong Jim Kam (drums) in a tour of Europe. They appeared at major festivals and at a fourth of July celebration at the home of Ambassador Robert A. Mandell in Luxembourg.
Students and alumni took the stage at world-renowned music competitions in several locations as well. At the Montreux Jazz Festival, Eshed placed third in the jazz guitar competition, Rebecca Chubay was a finalist in the jazz vocal competition, and Evgeny Lebedev ’10 was a finalist in the jazz piano solo competition. Pianist Giorgi Mikadze ’14 was selected for the Lee Ritenour Six String Theory contest and performed at the Montreux festival along with Leandro Pellegrino ’14, the winner of last year’s Montreux jazz guitar competition.
It’s exciting to see our students on the world’s stage and look forward to more success in the year ahead.
Berklee International Auditions, Interviews, and Workshops
To apply for admissions online, visit berklee.edu/admissions.
For more information on Berklee on the Road, visit berklee.edu/berkleeontheroad.
For more information on the international travel and events schedule visit berklee.edu/apply.
