Berklee Holds Auditions around the U.S. for Admissions and Scholarships

Berklee College of Music will be visiting cities around the U.S. from November though March as part the Berklee World Tour, where the college conducts live auditions and interviews with students interested in pursuing their dream of studying at Berklee. The college's unique audition and interview process is designed to identify students who are most likely to succeed in Berklee's dynamic environment: applicants who are passionate, entrepreneurial, motivated, and who display talent and potential.

Upcoming audition sites include Boston (December 3, 10, and 17), Chicago (December 13 and 14), Los Angeles (December 6-8 and 13-15), New York (January 31 through February 3), and Austin (February 16). For a full audition schedule, visit Berklee.edu/bwt. For more information on applying to Berklee, visit Berklee.edu/admissions. The application deadline for fall 2012 admission is January 15, 2012. 

Each year, Berklee visits more than 40 cities around the world in search of talented instrumentalists and vocalists—an effort that is supported with $25 million in scholarship funds. All applicants who audition and interview for admission are also considered for a host of scholarships that Berklee awards annually, including the Presidential Scholarship, the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship, the Africa Scholarship, the Slaight Family Scholarship, and the Berklee City Music Scholarship.

In August, Berklee and Lollapalooza announced the founding of the Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship at the 20th anniversary of Lollapalooza in Chicago. The four-year, full-tuition scholarship will be awarded annually to a talented musician in financial need and is being endowed by Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund. This exciting partnership is the first educational initiative of its kind for Lollapalooza.

The Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship was established at the recommendation of Berklee trustee Fran Bermanzohn, managing director and deputy general counsel of Goldman Sachs. The scholarship aims to bring more outstanding rock musicians to Berklee. "We're looking for someone who's an artist," said professor Jeff Dorenfeld, who developed the partnership between Berklee and Lollapalooza producers C3 Presents. "Someone who is not only a great musician, but also an extraordinary performer with charisma and energy."

The first Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship recipient will be chosen at the end of March and announced at Lollapalooza 2012. Citizens and residents of the U.S. are eligible to be considered for the scholarship.