Jazz Virtuoso Grace Kelly Joins Berklee's Board of Trustees

Award-winning saxophonist, singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, bandleader, and esteemed alumna Grace Kelly B.M. ’12 has been named to Berklee's Board of Trustees, board chair Martin Mannion announced recently.

Kelly, who began her professional recording and touring career at age 12, has 13 acclaimed albums to her credit, and she has performed on some of the most high-profile international stages such as the Montreal, Newport, and Montreux jazz festivals, the Kennedy Center, and at the White House for President Obama’s inauguration. She has also played with such legendary artists as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Huey Lewis, Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Harry Connick Jr., among many others.

"Grace Kelly is not only a singular musical talent, but her passion for creating, sharing, teaching, and healing through her art has led her to become an incredible ambassador and community leader," said Mannion. "It is our extreme honor and privilege to welcome Ms. Kelly to the Board of Trustees, as we know she will continue to represent the essential core values of Berklee while inspiring generations of musicians to come."

Kelly's honors include multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Song of the Year in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and winning the DownBeat Critics Poll in the Rising Star–Alto Saxophone category nine times. She has played in the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and was featured in Amazon's Emmy-nominated series Bosch.

"I am honored and excited for the opportunity to champion Berklee’s cause and contribute to the important conversation around education,” said Kelly. “Berklee's mission of developing musical talent deeply resonates with me as someone who has had the blessing of having music be my full-time career over the last 18 years. The music industry is constantly changing and evolving in our fast-paced digital world. Berklee's commitment to adapting and pushing music education forward in innovative and relevant ways shows why they continue to be a leader and attract the brightest talent."

Known for her electrifying saxophone skills and her charismatic on-stage presence, Kelly has dazzled audiences in 35 countries with her signature electro-jazz-pop sound. In addition to her impressive performance résumé, Kelly has become a leader in music education by cofounding Saxy School.

Watch Grace Kelly's first fully choreographed music video, created for the remix of her song "Unbroken Wings":