Ensemble Department • Courses • Faculty

Designed to hone your essential performance skills and techniques, ensembles are offered in a wide variety of musical styles, sizes, and configurations.

Your first ensemble experience occurs during your first semester at Berklee and placement is based upon auditions held during your initial week at the college.

Joe Lovano Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance Honorary doctorate, Berklee College of Music 2000 Grammy nominee for Best Large Ensemble, 52nd Street Themes 2000 Down Beat Readers Poll Album of the Year, Trio Fascination: Edition One 1999 JazzTimes Readers Poll Album of the Year, Trio Fascination: Edition One 1999 Bell Atlantic Jazz Awards winner, Best Tenor Saxophonist and nominee, Musician of the Year 1998 New York Jazz Awards nominee, Musician of the Year, Improviser of the Year, Best Tenor Saxophonist 1998 Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards nominee for Musician of the Year, Best Improviser of the Year, Best Artist/Band in Performance, Best Combo of 1997 (Joe Lovano Sextet), Best Tenor Saxophonist of the Year 1997 Grammy nominee, Best Instrumental Performance, Celebrating Sinatra 1997 Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards winner, Album of the Year, Quartets Live at the Vanguard, and nominee for Musician of the Year, Best Instrumentalist, Best Working Band (Joe Lovano Quartet) 1996 Grammy nominee, Best Jazz Small Group Album and Jazz Solo, Quartet Live at the Village Vanguard 1995 and 1996, Jazz Artist of the Year, Down Beat Critics Poll and Readers Poll 1994 Grammy nominee, Best Jazz Small Group Album, Tenor Legacy
Ron Savage Chair Alumnus, Berklee College of Music Numerous concert, jazz festival, television, and theater performances Recordings with Christopher Hollyday, Cecilia Smith, and Patrice Williamson Appearances with Gary Bartz, Don Braden, Don Byron, Cyrus Chestnut, Kurt Elling, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Nnenna Freelon, Christian McBride, Marian McPartland, Mulgrew Miller, Bill Pierce, Vanessa Rubin, Mark Whitfield, James Williams, Phil Woods, and Joe Zawinul and the Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno
Bruce Nifong Assistant Chair B.M., Berklee College of Music M.M., New England Conservatory of Music Recordings and international concert tours for CBS and Polydor Records Experienced private instructor

A Sampling of Ensembles

Here is just a brief list of some of the more than 350 ensembles in rehearsal throughout the year:

• Jazz/Rock Ensemble
• The Berklee John Scofield Ensemble
• The Berklee Wayne Shorter Ensemble
• Country Music Ensemble
• Latin Ensembles
• Small Concert Jazz Ensemble
• The Berklee Yellowjackets Ensemble
• Small Improvisation Ensemble
• Contemporary Small Ensemble
• The Berklee Horace Silver Ensemble
• The Berklee Cannonball Adderley Ensemble
• The Berklee Art Blakey Ensemble
• The Berklee Thelonious Monk Ensemble
• Contemporary Fusion Ensemble
• Commercial Pop Rock Recording Ensemble
• The Berklee Recording Orchestra
• Vocal Jazz Ensemble
• The Jazz Composition Ensemble
• Small Bebop Jazz Ensemble
• Funk Bands
• The Avant Garde Ensemble
• Country Music Ensemble
• World Percussion Ensemble
• Musical Theater/Opera Performance Ensemble
• Vocal Summit
• Gospel Choir
• Back Bay Brass

Ensemble Department Facilities and Resources

• Ensemble Rooms: Ensemble Rooms are equipped with all the necessary equipment for live performance: electric and acoustic piano, bass and guitar amps, drumset and percussion equipment, sound system and microphones and a digital connection to the Berklee Learning Resource Network (BLRN)

For further information about the Ensemble Department, please call (617) 747-2255.