Wes Wehmiller Scholarship
Wes Wehmiller Click here to watch the video of President of Berklee College of Music, Roger Brown, announcing the Wes Wehmiller Scholarship: Berklee Remembers Wes |
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 Bass Legend Pino Paladino Headlines WesFest 6 |
Wes Wehmiller '92 was an accomplished bassist, athlete, and photographer. His family and friends from around the world invite you to join them at the Roxy in Hollywood on Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 for WesFest 8, a celebration of Wes's life and legacy, and fundraiser for the prestigious Wes Wehmiller scholarship, which is awarded annually to the electric bass student that best carries on Wes's talent, generosity, and verve.
The Wehmiller family and Wes Wehmiller's extended family of friends from around the world invite you to join them in the ongoing celebration of the life of Wes Wehmiller '92, who died of thyroid cancer in January, 2005. The Wes Wehmiller Scholarship is awarded annually to a continuing student of the electric bass at Berklee whose musicianship, spirit, and visibility as a performer demonstrate his or her potential to carry on the talent and spirit of Wes.
WesFest, a tribute concert held annually in Hollywood in celebration of Wes' musical legacy, serves as the centerpiece of the continuing drive to raise funds for what has become one of the most prestigious awards given by Berklee College of Music. Click here to make a contribution to the scholarship and to become part of the spirited WesFest community giving forward in the way Wes so generously gave and still gives to us.
Wes, who won a scholarship to attend Berklee, was mentored here by bassist/professor Danny Morris who became a close colleague and friend. In 1993, Wes moved to the west coast where he collaborated with a vibrant Los Angeles community of Berklee alumni. From 1997 through 2001, Wes toured worldwide with the multi-platinum pop band Duran Duran, and appeared on many TV shows with them as well, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, VH-1's Storytellers and Hard Rock Live. Wes also performed with Missing Persons, avant-garde solo artist Mike Keneally, and several other L.A. based bands, and his work appears on numerous recordings produced in the L.A. area and in Vancouver. At www.weswehmiller.net you can learn about Wes, and the people he touched. This site is packed with music, videos, photography by and of Wes, and much much more.
On February 27, 2011, WesFest 6, the sixth annual WesFest benefit concert, took place at The Roxy in Los Angeles. The concert was headlined by fusion supergroup PSP, comprised of drummer Simon Phillips, keyboardist Philippe Saisse, and bassist Pino Palladino. The show marked PSP's live Southern California debut. It also brought a special energy to the event, as Palladino was often cited by Wehmiller himself as his most important musical influence. "For those of us who really knew Wes and loved his extremely fluid, soulful playing style," remarked WesFest co-producer Bryan Beller, "it was like going straight to the energy source. We all stood in awe watching Pino do his thing, and the whole WesFest community got a much deeper appreciation for why Wes' playing was so special." Peter Gordon, Director of The Berklee Center in Los Angeles, agreed. "With economic challenges all around us, it's truly impressive that WesFest continues to succeed each year. Having Pino onstage to close the concert was especially poignant and left a very real sense that Wes was 'in the house.'"
 2010 Scholarship Winner Joshua Tyson |
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 2011 Scholarship Winner Hayley Jane Batt |
In a long-standing WesFest concert tradition, the 2010 Wehmiller Scholarship winner performed at WesFest 6. Bassist Joshua Tyson of East Orange, NJ brought a deep sense of groove to the show, anchoring a band of mostly Berklee graduates led by Wehmiller's Berklee Bass Professor and close friend Danny Morris. "Joshua Tyson understands ebb and flow, how to take the listener on a musical journey," writes Danny Mo, "and his set ending solo gave the audience a taste of his groove, originality, soul, and rhythmic beauty."
Other performers at WesFest 6 included many musicians who knew and worked with Wes during his twelve years in Los Angeles: The Rick Musallam Group (a debut performance by one of Wes' close friends), Gryphon Labs (led by Zappa Plays Zappa bassist Pete Griffin), and WesFest veterans Tamara Silvera, Ali Handal, and Colin Keenan.
WesFest co-producer Stacey Ferguson affirmed the event's impact. "As we continue to honor Wes through this scholarship, seeing the family of recipients grow and find success makes it undeniable that this is making a big difference in these students' lives. We're extremely grateful for the support we've received through the years from the performers, donors, and attendees of WesFest."
A unique aspect of the Wes Wehmiller Scholarship is that each year the new scholarship recipient travels with Danny Morris to Los Angeles to perform at WesFest and, on the evening of the awards ceremony in March, performs with Berklee Bass Professor Danny Morris at Danny Mo's Family Reunion. This year, we are pleased to welcome Hayley Jane Batt of London England as the newest scholarship recipient to join our growing family of talented young bassists who receive this scholarship in honor of Wes and what he stands for as a bassist and musician. Danny Morris, Wehmiller's Berklee Bass Professor and close friend says, "Wes would have loved Hayley's approach to playing music. It's organic, provocative, and groove heavy. Hayley plays a Fender Jazz Bass as do many folks these days. Her timbre is thick, full of warmth, and her tonality shapes are full of joyful support for the music she's accompanying. Hayley is an inquisitive artist and an insightful musician who has her own voice on the bass which you can hear at Wesfest on March 4th at The Roxy in LA and at D Mo's Family Reunion on March 14th at David Friend Recital Hall in Boston.