Student group performs while Russian musicians compete for a full-ride scholarship.

By Allen Bush
Berklee.edu Correspondent
August 7, 2006

A group of Berklee students, faculty, and staff traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, for a whirlwind of musical activity over three days in July. At the invitation of Sergei Kremensky, founder of the up-and-coming JazzQ Festival, the Berklee team went to St. Petersburg with two missions: to give students extraordinary performance opportunities and to audition a group of young Russian musicians for a generous Berklee scholarship.

The Berklee Heavy Groove Ensemble—directed by Berklee professor and noted funk/fusion guitarist David Fiuczynski—featured seven talented students from all over the world: vocalist Danny McClain, of Roxbury, Massachusetts; vocalist Anjuli Stars, from Miami, Florida; saxophonist Nikolay Moiseenko, of Moscow, Russia; drummer Ayeisha Mathis, of Dorchester, Massachusetts; pianist Jim Funnell, of Paris, France; bassist Jeremy McDonald, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and keyboardist Richard Wheare, of Hong Kong, China. After winning over the JazzQ audience on the night of July 22 with a set of jazz, funk, and hip-hop arrangements of songs by Fiuczynski and others, the students signed autographs for adoring Russian fans who insisted that they come back next year. Some of the festivalgoers showed up at the Street Life jazz club the following night for the band's two-set concert that came across even more powerfully in the small club setting than it did on the sprawling festival stage.

Before any of the performances took place, more than 20 young Russian jazz musicians auditioned for Larry Baione, chair of guitar; and Damien Bracken, director of admissions, scholarships, and student employment. The auditions were held on July 22 at the JFC jazz club. One student would be chosen to receive the Sergei Kremensky Endowed Scholarship, covering tuition and housing for four years of study, and accept it that night on the JazzQ stage.

When Kremensky and Bracken read tenor saxophonist Oleg Ostapchuk's name over the festival's booming public address system, Ostapchuk was stunned only for a moment before charging onto the stage to hug the men that helped make his dream of studying music in the United States come true. After the presentation, Ostapchuk, a Moscow resident, took his saxophone backstage and posed for photos. He later told the group that he plans to be in Boston for the start of the spring semester in January 2007.

The Berklee Heavy Groove Ensemble played at the JazzQ Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, on a night that included performances by Stanley Clarke and George Duke. Berklee associate professor of guitar David Fiuczynski conducted the Heavy Groove Ensemble. Behind him is student keyboardist Richard Wheare. The festival's giant video screen shows a close up of alumnus vocalist Danny McClain. Young musicians from all over Russia wait outside of the JFC jazz club for a turn to audition for the full-ride Sergei Kremensky Endowed Scholarship. (From left) Sergei Kremensky, scholarship winner Oleg Ostapchuk, and Damien Bracken, director of admissions, scholarships, and student employment, on the JazzQ stage. The Berklee Heavy Groove Ensemble performs at the Street Life jazz club. Members of the Heavy Groove Ensemble, with Berklee faculty and administrators and JazzQ Festival staff, after the band's dynamic performance at Street Life.

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Allen Bush is Berklee's Director of Public Information.