12th Annual Berklee in Puerto Rico to Offer Musical Instruction, $380,000 in Scholarships

May 26, 2006

For the 12th consecutive year, world-renowned faculty from Boston's Berklee College of Music will travel to San Juan for the Berklee in Puerto Rico educational experience, an intensive, week-long study of contemporary music. Held each year in conjunction with the four-night Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest, the clinics provide a completely unique outlet for young musicians on the island. At the completion of the program, select students will be awarded a collective $380,000 for study at Berklee in Boston.

Approximately 125 young musicians are expected to participate in this year's Berklee in Puerto Rico program at Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina, in Carolina, from May 30 through June 3. Following the intensive musical workshop, many of the program's top students will have the chance to demonstrate what they've learned in a performance with the Berklee Student Band on Sunday, June 4, at the Tito Puente Amphitheater, in San Juan. Watching and listening to the student performance is always one of the highlights of the JazzFest.

Following the student group will be an exciting concert from the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest Big Band led by Larry Monroe, associate vice president for International Programs and director of Berklee in Puerto Rico. Joining Monroe will be saxophonist Greg Badolato, assistant vice president for International Programs; Donna McElroy, associate professor of voice; Robynn Amy, brass instructor; drummer Ron Savage, chair of the ensemble department; Oscar Stagnaro, professor of bass; trumpeter Scott deOgburn, associate professor of ear training; Matthew Nicholl, contemporary writing and production chair; and Mark White, professor of guitar. Later, island native and Berklee associate professor Eguie Castrillo and his Palladium Tradition Orchestra wlll close the festival with a bang!

About Berklee in Puerto Rico

The Berklee in Puerto Rico program is a crash course in the Berklee method of musical instruction, encompassing theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance, and instrument instruction. During the program, interested students will audition for $380,000 in scholarships to attend the college in Boston. Berklee has awarded more than $1.3 million in tuition assistance to participants in the Berklee in Puerto Rico program. More than 40 of these recipients have attended Berklee in Boston.

Berklee in Puerto Rico is made possible with generous support from Berklee alumnus and Trustee Luis Alvarez '83, vice president of Mendez & Company, Inc., and executive producer of the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest. In addition to helping coordinate the program, Alvarez and his corporation will donate $20,000 for the Mendez & Company Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest Scholarship to be awarded at the end of the Berklee in Puerto Rico program.

"Berklee really values the great talent, enthusiasm, and innate musical ability of Puerto Rico's young musicians," said Monroe. "It is very important for us to help these students make it to Berklee, where they truly enrich the musical and cultural environment of the college."

Well-known alto saxophonist and recording artist Miguel Zenon '99, received a scholarship to come to Boston through the program. Zenon has toured with David Sanchez, the Either/Orchestra, Ray Barretto, Branford Marsalis, and Danilo Perez, and more. Among the other Berklee alumni from the island are Grammy-winning flutist Nestor Torres '73, and drummer Tony Escapa '02.

For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:

Mitzi Dorbu
Office of Public Information
mdorbu@berklee.edu
In San Juan, May 31 - June 5:
(352) 281-4166
In Boston:
(617) 747-2750