Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please e-mail us.
	Lisa Hearns
	Photo by Phil Farnsworth

"When I read Berklee's mission statement—'To educate, train and develop students to excel in music as a career'—I realized that I had an incredible institution behind me, that truly wanted me to succeed," says Hearns. "Berklee is very proud of our alumni and we want them to know how valued they are as members of the community. Serving as a board member, I hope to inspire more alumni to truly come together in support of each other and of the college."

Says Roger Brown, president of Berklee: "Lisa Hearns is committed to helping Berklee connect even more strongly with our largest alumni concentration anywhere in the world—New York City. She brings a sensitivity to alumni and to student needs, and also has great ideas for how Berklee can take advantage of its proximity to the vital New York music and arts scenes."

Hearns grew up in a musical family and although she studied classical piano throughout her childhood, she didn't become serious about music as a career until she discovered jazz and blues, especially the music of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Albert Collins. She formed and led groups in New York City and then enrolled at Berklee, from where she graduated in 1996 with a degree in professional music.

As president of the college's largest alumni chapter, Hearns leads a group of volunteers to create social, professional, and performance opportunities that include speaker panels, showcases, and the upcoming Berklee Jazz Masters Jam. She contributes news to Berklee's alumni magazine, Berklee Today, and keeps more than 1,000 registered alumni informed of performance and job opportunities. One of her popular programming efforts is the New York Alumni Songwriters Forum, which features various guest artists and experts from the music industry like songwriter Eve Nelson '86, Man Made Music sonic branding and production company founder Joel Beckerman, and music publisher Barbara Jordan.

Hearns is a member of the Manhattan Association of Cabaret, and served on the board of the New England Blues Society for several years while she was in Boston. Hearns has a number of professional recordings to her credit, including a CD of contemporary blues and r&b, Give Yourself Freely, for which she wrote eight of the 10 tracks. She performs blues and jazz at clubs in Greenwich Village, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and throughout the New York tri-state area.

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

Allen Bush
Office of Public Information
(617) 747-2658
abush@berklee.edu