Award designated specifically for an outstanding African-American student

	Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please e-mail us.
	Pictured (from left to right) are President Lee Eliot Berk with Trustees David Lee, Dolores Johnson, Vivian Beard and Michael Dreese. (photo credit: Bob Kramer)
	Music Education major and vocalist Nia Allen '03, received the first-annual Sarah Vaughan Scholarship award at a performance of the Reverence Gospel Ensemble on November 27, 2000. Pictured left to right are Trustees David Lee and Vivian Beard, student Nia Allen and President Lee Eliot Berk. (photo credit: Justin Allardyce Knight)
	One of the most popular events at Berklee, the Reverence Gospel Ensemble annual concert filled the Berklee Performance Center. (photo credit: Justin Allardyce Knight)

The founders of this award feel their mission is clear, "We'd like to see as many promising musicians study at Berklee as possible," says Dolores Johnson, adding, "we thought this would be a perfect way to recognize that American musical traditions are steeped in African-American traditions."

Over the past year, Beard, Johnson and Lee engaged the local African-American community in extensive fundraising efforts. Michael Dreese says of the fund's founders, "These people were getting out there into the community, getting people involved. They're not pontificating, they're acting. I knew I needed to support that."

For Berklee Trustee David Lee it is fitting that Sarah Vaughan is the namesake for this award. "Each of us associated with the founding of the Sarah Vaughn Scholarship is thrilled that this award, to an outstanding African-American musician enrolled at Berklee, bears her name. Sarah was a consummate musician who became an American icon," says Lee.

One of the most prominent women in jazz during the 20th century, the name Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) is synonymous with "jazz singer" and is listed in the same breath as such legendary vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Known for her expansive vocal range, chameleon tone and expressiveness, Vaughan's career spanned fifty years, over twenty original recordings, two feature films and numerous television appearances and specials. In the early years of her career, Vaughan performed with jazz pioneers Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as part of Billy Eckstine's big band, beginning her extensive discography. As a solo artist, Vaughan had the opportunity to perform with many other jazz giants: Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford Brown, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Roy Haynes and Max Roach; and in the '70s and '80s with Ron Carter, Jan Hammer, Herbie Hancock and Chuck Mangione among others.

"Her skills were as broad as her incredible vocal range," says Lee, "she transcended categorization, and it is fitting that the scholarship not be limited to vocalists but instead recognize overall musical excellence."

The recipient of the first annual Sarah Vaughan Scholarship, Nia Allen '03, is a vocalist in her third semester at Berklee. A graduate of World Harvest Christian Academy in Columbus, Ohio, Allen began her studies at Berklee in the fall of 1999 and is pursuing a degree in Music Education. Allen attended Berklee's Summer Performance Program in the summer of 1998 and was subsequently awarded a Berklee Entering Student Talent scholarship to attend the college as a full-time student. "I don't take this lightly," Allen said upon accepting the Sarah Vaughan Scholarship award, adding, "I am truly blessed."

President Lee Eliot Berk, with Beard and Lee, presented the award to Allen on November 27, 2000, at one of the most prestigious and popular Berklee annual events, The Reverence Gospel Ensemble concert. In its 19-year history, the Reverence Gospel Ensemble has included nearly 400 students, from countries all over the world. The group has won plaudits at the Black Music Caucus Competition in New York on three occasions. Under the direction of faculty member and alumnus Dennis Montgomery III '88, the choir has performed for two consecutive years at Dimock Community Health Center's "Steppin' Out" gala at the World Trade Center. They have also performed at many New England area churches. Allen performs in the Gospel Ensemble and was also a selected soloist in the smaller Overjoyed Ensemble, also led by Montgomery.

Founded in 1945, Berklee College of Music has been advancing careers in contemporary music for more than 50 years. The world's largest independent college of music, Berklee has a multicultural enrollment of approximately 3,400 students, 40 percent of whom are international. The college's alumni include some of the most respected figures in contemporary music, including many multi-Grammy award winners.

For more information, please contact:

Jessica Blake, Public Information Coordinator
Office of Public Information
Berklee College of Music
(617) 747-2750 or jblake@berklee.edu