Schwab Capital Markets is Lead Sponsor; Nine Nightclubs Under One Roof Featured Many Musical Styles

Berklee City Music provides scholarships to deserving Boston area high school students. Through Berklee City Music, students receive scholarships to Berklee's five-week summer performance program, participate in after-school mentoring and a Saturday music school, and can be awarded four-year full-tuition scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music.

This past year more than 50 students from Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Lynn were funded to participated in the college's summer five-week performance program, SYSTEM-5. (SYSTEM-5 is an abbreviation for the "Summer Youth Scholarship for Talent and Excellence in Music.") Eight students were awarded four-year full-tuition scholarships to Berklee College of Music. To quote Berklee's Assistant Vice President for Community and Governmental Affairs J. Curtis Warner, Jr., "At some institutions, community affairs is an afterthought, but at Berklee, it's a priority."

Berklee welcomed Schwab Capital Markets as lead sponsor for the Encore Gala for the fourth year in a row. Since its founding in the early 1970's, Charles Schwab and Company has been committed to forming educational partnerships that benefit local communities. "Berklee City Music is a perfect example of this commitment," said Charlie Milligan, Managing Director, Schwab Capital Markets. "And we're extremely proud to be the lead sponsor of this year's gala."

Berklee once again transformed the venue into a humming entertainment complex with nine nightclubs, featuring musical styles such as jazz, gospel, blues, rock, and big band music, performed by over 100 of the college's top student and faculty musicians as well as surprise guests. Former faculty member Al Kooper — who has performed with Blood, Sweat and Tears, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones — performed with the Funky Faculty, a group of top Berklee faculty members. Kooper received an Honorary Doctor of Music degree at Berklee's Convocation on September 7, 2001.

The names of the nightclub rooms reflected the diversity that marks the Berklee musical experience: ie. "Blues Review," "The Berklee a Go-Go," and "World Music Gallery." Groups featured included The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, The Berklee Tower of Power Ensemble, and Berklee's OverJoyed Gospel Ensemble. In the "Symphony Suite" some of Berklee's finest student pianists improvised to classic silent films. In the "City Music Room," Berklee City Music students performed a variety of jazz standards. This group has been selected to perform at the 2002 International Association of Jazz Educators convention in Long Beach, CA.

Over $55,000 of the total funds raised were raised by the Silent Auction. Berklee trustees, alumni, faculty and students contributed generously and can be credited for the diversity and creativity of the items up for bid at the auction. A sampling of some of this year's auction items follows:

• Yamaha Disklavier Grantouch Piano;
• Tickets to the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival — This package includes two round trip, first class tickets to San Juan, four nights at the San Juan Marriot Hotel and Stellaris Casino, two VIP passes for the JazzFest (May 30, 31, June 1, 2, 2002), a one hour helicopter tour of San Juan's north coast, and round trip transportation to the airport and venue;
• Tickets to the Drew Carey Show! — Four V.I.P. passes to the episode of your choice (Warner Bros., Los Angeles); autographed script; cap; mug, and a six pack of BUZZ Beer straight from the set! (3 for the winner, & 3 consumed by the boys!);
• A day on the set (closed) at the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light" — this behind the scene tour is valid for one person and includes a makeover from the show's hair and makeup stylists, and autographed script and memorabilia and from the cast;
• Star Trek signed score page, signed by composer Jay Chattaway, from the new "Star Trek - Enterprise" series;
• The Simpsons Poster - a 60"x27" full-color limited edition framed signed poster, signed by Berklee alumnus and show composer Alf Clausen '66, of the hit FOX television series The Simpsons featuring all 320 Springfield characters, with an accompanying legend listing all of the character's names. Also included is a signed CD entitled, "Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons." This CD package of 53 clever and comic soundtrack selections was assembled by Alf Clausen;
• Dinner for four guests with Berklee Trustee and Grammy-winning music producer Phil Ramone;
• Two VIP Tickets to the VH1 Music Awards in Los Angeles;
• Two tickets to attend a taping of the incredible VH1 Storytellers in New York City;
• Four tickets to the Broadway show "The Producers" in New York City;
• Music Industry Advice and Luncheon with John Doelp at the Sony Executive Club at the top of the Sony Building in Manhattan. John Doelp is Senior Vice President, Business Development, Sony Music Entertainment, and a Berklee trustee;
• Two silver tickets to the 44th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles;
• Island Getaway on Martha's Vineyard;
• Vacation at a Castle in Ireland;
• and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Vacation.

This year's Gala co-chairs were Berklee Trustee William G. Morton, Chair Emeritus of the Boston Stock Exchange, and Board of Trustees Vice Chair Vivian Beard, Director of the Compliance and Diversity Division of MassHousing. Honorary co-chairs were Berklee President Lee Eliot Berk and his wife Susan. Additionally, the rooms at the Harvard Club were sponsored by generous contributions from individuals and companies.

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 3,400 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.

Media, for more information, please contact:

Emily Singer
Office of Public Information
Berklee College of Music
(617) 747-2567
esinger@berklee.edu