Holodnak, Morrison, Newberger, Ramone, and Sapers join the board

BOSTON, Oct. 22, 2001 -- Entering an important new era of college leadership, Berklee College of Music has appointed five new members to its Board of Trustees, Chairman Allan T. McLean announced today. The appointees represent a wide range of backgrounds and professional experience, and promise to bring valuable new insight to the management of college affairs.

The new trustees are Bill Holodnak, president of J. Robert Scott; Robert Morrison, vice president of VH1 and CEO of the Save the Music Foundation; Dr. Eli Newberger, renowned child advocate and jazz musician; Phil Ramone, Grammy-winning producer; and Rhoda Sapers, distinguished nurse and daughter of one of Berklee's founding fathers.

"Berklee College of Music is indeed fortunate to be attracting the level and quality of trustees which are represented in our new board members," said President Lee Eliot Berk. "They represent a big vote of confidence in Berklee's on-going success."

Bill Holodnak (see full press release) is founder and president of the J. Robert Scott executive search firm, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments. He has conducted senior level search assignments in a variety of fields, in addition to managing the firm since it's 1986 inception. Prior to his work with J. Robert Scott, Mr. Holodnak worked in the PricewaterhouseCoopers' Boston office, and successfully managed the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass.

Robert Morrison (see full press release) is vice president of public affairs for VH1, and CEO of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. A longtime supporter of music education, Morrison is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading advocates for music and arts education in public schools. He was awarded an Emmy and a Peabody Award for his work with VH1's Save The Music. Since its inception, Save The Music has restored music programs to over 500 public schools.

Dr. Eli H. Newberger (see full press release) is a world-renowned pediatrician, child advocate, and jazz musician. He has spent over two decades working to improve the care of childhood victims of maltreatment and domestic violence. Dr. Newberger has been honored by many organizations for his outstanding contributions in the prevention of child abuse, including the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Greater Boston Committee for UNICEF, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Phil Ramone (see full press release) is widely known as a Grammy- and Emmy -winning producer and a recording industry innovator. In 1961 Ramone opened his own recording studio, the now legendary A&R Recording in New York City, where his groundbreaking techniques led to production opportunities with numerous talented musicians. He has produced and engineered hit records for Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and many other top artists.

Rhoda Sapers (see full press release) is an accomplished former nurse and educator, and the daughter of Fred Berman, founding chair of the Berklee Brass Department, dating back to the days when Berklee was known as the Schillinger House. She worked for many years at the Beth Israel Hospital as a nurse, educator, and administrator. She also has served as president and chair of many prominent Jewish philanthropic foundations. Sapers and her family have established an endowed fund for entering brass students, and are members of the Berklee Board of Visitors.

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 more than 3,500 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.

Media, for further information, contact:

Sarah Godcher
Berklee College of Music
617-747-2658
sgodcher@berklee.edu