Berklee City Music and Project R.Y.T.M.O. Announce Partnership

The Anaheim youth organization is the third California-based program and 15th overall to join the Berklee City Music Network.

November 4, 2009

Anaheim's Project R.Y.T.M.O. (Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities) has been named a member of Berklee College of Music's City Music Network, a national consortium of music programs that provide high-quality contemporary music instruction for underserved youth. With the partnership, R.Y.T.M.O students gain access to a Berklee's PULSE curriculum and mentoring from Berklee alumni. They also become eligible for scholarships for summer and full-time study at Berklee's Boston campus.

City Music is Berklee's initiative to engage underserved urban youth through a music program that prepares them for higher education. The Berklee City Music Network establishes mutually beneficial relationships between Berklee's Boston-based program and organizations that have a similar mission to change the lives of young people through music education. R.Y.T.M.O is the third California-based organization and 15th program overall to join the network.

Project R.Y.T.M.O. primarily serves at-risk youth, ages 14–24, in Orange County, California, providing occupational skills training in music technology. Classes are held in a state-of-the-art Anaheim recording studio facility. The program has graduated over 475 students since its inception in 2003.

"Being associated with an institution of national and international recognition such as Berklee allows our youth greater options and opportunities for higher education, artistic advancement, and success in life," said Joey Arreguin, executive director, Project R.Y.T.M.O.

Says J. Curtis Warner, executive director, Berklee City Music National, "Project R.Y.T.M.O. is doing incredible things with Anaheim-area youth. Their contributions will benefit all of our Network member organizations."