Meet Graduates from Berklee's Class of 2024
Image by Michael D. Spencer
This weekend Berklee celebrates its latest class of graduates from Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, and Berklee Online.
On May 11, in ceremonies held at Agganis Arena and the Berklee Performance Center, 1,353 students—representing 64 countries, 49 US states, and ages ranging from 19 to 71—will receive their diplomas and enter into an exciting new phase in their artistic and professional lives.
In honor of this achievement, we asked a few of these students to reflect on their time at Berklee and look ahead to what's next for them. Here are their stories.
Violet Lewis
Image courtesy of Violet Lewis
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Principal Instrument: Voice
Major: Songwriting
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
These past two years as president of Berklee A&R Group have been incredibly exciting and rewarding. We have hosted executives from across the music industry for pitching sessions, Q&As, mentoring sessions, and panels; curated exciting showcases featuring our favorite Berklee talent; learned from each other through dynamic and engaging discussions; made amazing connections in the music industry; and built a really beautiful community here on Berklee’s campus. Through my studies as a songwriting major, I’ve learned what makes a great song, and through my work with Berklee A&R Group, I’ve learned what makes a great A&R.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
I am incredibly excited to be moving back to Los Angeles as an A&R coordinator at Position Music. I look forward to diving in head first and learning from Mark Chipello [head of A&R at Position] and Position’s killer A&R team, and I am eager to take the skills I’ve learned at Berklee and be a positive, uplifting force in the music industry.
Follow Violet on Instagram or visit her website.
Shantel Teixeira
Image courtesy of Shantel Teixeira
Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts
Principal Instrument: Voice
Major: Music Business/Management
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
As I've been preparing to move into this next chapter of my story, it almost felt too intentional that I was blessed not only to receive this year’s Career Jam Spotlight Award but also to bring my work in the music business realm to center stage in the concert. As much as this performance marked a new leaf turned in my identity and purpose, it was also a beautiful culmination of all the layers of my being that I’ve grown through and all the people who’ve left an imprint on me over the years. I’m ever grateful that Berklee brought me in close alignment with people who saw my soul and showed me true examples of the kind of leadership that is rooted in both community and individual truth.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
I will be continuing to pursue my career as an entrepreneur, developing my company ROOTD. Management and overseeing my roster of emerging artists, songwriters, and producers. As a native Bostonian, I have also decided to stay in the city to support local organizations/platforms and invest in building infrastructure to support the Boston market and creative local community. As my story unfolds further down the line, my brand will expand beyond the music industry into philanthropic and philosophical endeavors as my work in local communities as both a dot-connector and a glue-agent amplifies.
Follow Shantel on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Rory Wilson
Image courtesy of Rory Wilson
Hometown: Sheffield, England
Principal Instrument: Composition
Major: Composition (Master of Music)
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
The project I am most proud of during my time here is definitely my graduating composition recital. It represented not only the artistic growth I have gone through during my master's degree, but also the deep musical connections I have made. In one evening, I saw artistic relationships nurtured over the course of two years come to a wonderful fruition, as well as the germination of new ones that will last for years to come.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
After graduation I am moving to London, England, where I will be starting work as music director of a small church. I will be developing their choir program, as well as accompanying services and writing a new hymn book for the parish. I also will be overseeing the establishment of a concert series taking place in the parish's flagship, 900-year-old chapel building!
Follow Rory on Instagram.
Asher Stevens
Image courtesy of Asher Stevens
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Principal Instrument: Electronic Digital Instrument
Major: Electronic Production and Design
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
Without a doubt the project I am most proud of is Kidd Revel, a solo music project that has led to my most important career achievements thus far—one of which is my upcoming performance at the Governor’s Ball Music Festival via the BPMI [Berklee Popular Music Institute] program, scheduled for June 8, and the other is the debut album that I have been constructing since I declared electronic production and design as my major in 2022, set to be completed as my capstone project in August 2024. As an artist-producer, both of these projects correlate directly with my education, which has been spent harnessing my skills as a producer, songwriter, and performer.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
Short term, I will be moving to Brooklyn and working as an assistant engineer and freelance producer, building connections in the city, and continuing to share and perform my original music. Long term, I plan to turn my artist project Kidd Revel into a sustainable career via touring and releasing music, as well as building Listen Very Closely, my clothing brand, multimedia company, and record label.
Follow Kidd Revel on Instagram, YouTube, and Linktree.
Kieran Rhodes
Image courtesy of Kieran Rhodes
Hometown: Burnt Hills, New York
Principal Instrument: Piano
Major: Professional Music
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
During my fifth semester, Disney Television Animation came into Berklee and opened up a song brief to all songwriters. I submitted for it and won. I've always said that I wanted to work with Disney, and it has truly been a dream come true. I'm so grateful for that experience and for Berklee putting the opportunity in front of me.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
I am moving out to LA and will pursue the path of a recording/touring artist while additionally writing songs for film/TV.
Agua García
Image courtesy of Agua Garcia
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Principal Instrument: Voice
Majors: Songwriting, Contemporary Writing and Production
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
The project I'm the most proud of is my final project of the class Latin Pop Songwriting and Production, with Rodney Alejandro, where I got to do my first pitch ever to a record label. That pitch was successful—an artist released it, and I was able to get two internships at the record label as well.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
I recently signed with Warner Chappell Music and Claudia Brant, so as soon as I finish my classes I'm moving to LA to write songs for different artists. My long-term plans are, after becoming a well-known songwriter, to move back to Mexico City to continue creating music in my hometown.
Follow Agua on Instagram, TikTok, and Linktree.
Andy Lin
Image courtesy of Andy Lin
Hometown: Brattleboro, Vermont
Principal Instrument: Piano
Majors: Film and Media Scoring
What project or performance during your time at Berklee are you most proud of, and how does it connect to what you’ve learned here?
The recording projects I had for my film scoring and game scoring class. It was a very nice feeling hearing my music being played in a recording studio and the process of preparing for those recordings became a very valuable experience for me. Outside of projects, being able to perform at Anime Boston with Berklee's Anime Band in 2022 was an experience I never really thought I would be able to have before coming to Berklee.
What are your short- and long-term plans, post-graduation?
I will be attending the Screen Music Program in Pavia, Italy. Besides that, my goal is to work in the anime industry in Japan as a composer, so I will continue to connect and reach out to composers of anime and composer agencies in Japan while maintaining the connections I've already made.
