Boston News

Greetings from the Berklee Boston Alumni Chapter, the college’s home chapter. As chapter cochairs, we—Darcie-Nicole Wicknick ’01 and Jennifer Truesdale ’92—would like to introduce ourselves.

Truesdale owns Jeannie Deva Voice Studios and Ruby Shoes Music Publishing. Additionally, she hosts the Boston chapter of Chick Singer Night, a performance series for women (visit www.chicksingernight.com). Wicknick is a Berklee staff member and the founder of the music business consulting company Ask Darcie and the Boston Hip-Hop Alliance. Her r&b-hip-hop group Velvet Stylus features James A. Tootle ’97, Josh Witmer ’97, Jay Prokorym ’98, and Tony Porter ’99. The group recently signed with the licensing agency Music Dealers.

It’s exciting to be at the hub of Berklee’s alumni activities. We recently started an alumni educators’ forum and are working on organizing technology- and career-focused clinics. In August, Truesdale and her family hosted a fantastic barbecue, which 40 alumni attended. Earlier in the summer, several out-of-state alumni joined Deanna Della Cioppa ’96 at her family’s restaurant in Arlington, MA, to watch Della Cioppa compete on Don’t Forget the Lyrics.

Here’s what some Boston chapter members are doing. Stuart Berk ’01 has provided tour management for Peter Wolf and the J. Geils Band. He also plays with Eliot Hunt ’99, Richard Gates, John Sands ’78, and Kristin Cifelli ’98. Dave Dubinsky ’73 plays with Rico Barr & the Jump ‘n’ Jive Review and Adagio Contemporary Big Band. Steve Piermarini ’82 conducts the Leominster Colonial Band.

In July drummer Barry Silver ’97 and the band Switchblade Suicide issued the CD Japanese Release and opened for KISS. Bassist and trombonist Mark Snyder ’79 has released two albums and recorded with Brad Hatfield ’75, and Bruce Abbott ’75.

Kwatice Ezell ’10 served as the rehearsal coordinator for ESPN’s ESPY Awards show. Ezell operates Carlyle Musick and produces celebrity shows in Boston and New Orleans. Nathan Goldstein ’02 served as a playback technician on the promotional tour for the TV show Glee. Kathy Heywood ’82 produced the Newburyport music festival on Labor Day and performed with her all-trombone group (that includes Evan Goodrow). Michelle Lewis ’03 released the CD Broken. Barry Rocklin ’85 plays piano bars and cabarets in Europe and the Caribbean.

Dow Brain ’88 and Pacey Foster are preserving audio of prominent Boston hip-hop artists. Heather Rice-Fahey ’83 has raised funds to provide musical instruments for children in Kenya. Jay Ford ’78 has several Berklee alumni teaching at his Music Maker School in Acton, MA. Vardan Ovsepian ’00 recently played in South America with Peter Erskine and will teach at a music academy in India. Bassist Jodi (Fitzpatrick) Stevens ’97 plays with the Bobby Gadoury Trio and is a contributing editor to the Guitar Video Channel. Debbie Sullivan ’78 teaches general music at a school in Cambridge, MA, and performs regularly. And after working for years on Nashville’s Music Row, Stan Swiniarski ’79 has joined Berklee’s Songwriting Department.

The soundtrack of Twist of Fate features music by Ken Field ’79 and Michael Bierylo ’79, both of whom are members of the band Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. Andreia Pinto-Correia ’02 premiered Aldeias, her composition for brass ensemble and percussion, at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, MA. Allison Doherty ’99 leads the band the Swells with Josh Witmer and Jay Prokorym.

Marisa Déry ’85 operates Tamar Mastering in Somerville. Guitarist Chris Florio ’86 has recorded Seven Possible Solutions featuring Hiro Honshuku ’90, Mike Rivard ’85, and David Rosenthal ’95. Dan Fox ’92 and Crick Diefendorf ’91 played the Cape Cod Jazz Festival with Made in the Shade. Shawn Meehan ’01 and Eight to the Bar released the album The Romper Room. Justin Oliver ’01 and Soul Alley released the CD Public Alley 421. The band includes Alexandra Stoetzel ’08, Louis Ochoa ’10, and Eric Vincent ’07. Todd Glacy ’81 is active in Maine’s educational, yoga, and music scene.

As leaders of Berklee’s home chapter, we feel close to the college. The Office of Alumni Affairs has created a strong national network off campus, and we appreciate any ways in which we can work with you!

Best regards,

Darcie-Nicole Wicknick ’01

Boston Alumni Chapter Cochair