New York News
Berklee’s New York Alumni Chapter had a busy summer, hosting several great events. On June 5, local alumni attended a seminar titled “Legal Aspects of the Music Business in the Digital Age” at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. Jason Vogel ’88 and James Trigg of Kilpatrick, Stockton LLP offered an overview of copyright and trademark law. Adrian Ross ’96, director of public affairs at ASCAP, briefed the audience on performance rights and his work in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas. Entertainment media attorney Steven Masur of MasurLaw also participated in the discussion by sharing his experiences on pioneering legal initiatives in music and new technologies.
Lisa Hearns, New York Alumni Chapter Leader
On July 31, alumni and guests turned out for the Songwriter’s Forum panel event at Fluid and heard from successful Berklee alumni. Graduates shared their experiences working in the advertising industry and the factors contributing to their success. Among the attending alumni were David Shapiro, founding partner and executive producer of Fluid; Andrew Sherman, senior composer; Judson Crane, senior composer; and Ian Jeffreys, producer. Jeffreys generously devoted several hours of his time to help the New York Chapter put together the event.
Congratulations to Brooke Fox, NY Songwriter’s Forum chair, for inclusion in the August New York International Fringe Festival of her musical Williamsburg! The Musical. Co-created by Fox, Nicola Barber, Will Brumley, and Kurt Gellersted, Williamsburg! is a pop-rock parody of Brooklyn’s hipster neighborhood and portrays the unlikely love story of a neurotic and suicidal hipster and a Hasidic Jew.
We look forward to Saturday, October 20, when Berklee will host its first-ever Alumni Showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival in New York City. Now in its 27th year, the CMJ Music Marathon is New York City’s largest music event and one of the premier music events in the country.
The New York Alumni Chapter would like to thank all the alumni who have generously given their time and effort as well as Berklee’s Office of Alumni Affairs for continued support of New York events. As more alumni become involved, our chapter continues to grow and thrive. Anyone interested in planning events or sharing expertise on a particular topic should contact me at lhearns@berklee.net or call Berklee’s New York Chapter hotline at (877) 423-7553. And for more information on upcoming events, visit the alumni website at www.alumni.berklee.edu.
—Lisa Hearns, New York Alumni Chapter Leader
