Annette Philip

For better or worse, competition and strife are characteristics of music’s brightest stars. But these qualities have no place in the world of Berklee voice instructor Annette Philip. “Of course the industry is competitive,” she concedes, “but there is a way forward in music based on mutual respect. When a student steps into my classroom or on my stage, they check their ego at the door. It becomes only about the music.”

At its highest level, Philip believes music is about fellowship and synergy. “I love working with large communities. That’s been the common thread throughout my musical life ever since childhood,” she sums up. When interacting with her or seeing one of her ensembles perform, it’s clear that Philip’s thoughts on music come from a place of joy, a feeling she is committed to passing on to her students.

Though music wasn’t a family talent, her creative path was clear from the time she was a young child in Delhi, India. “I remember watching singers like Luciano Pavarotti and Karen Carpenter on television, and I felt as though a light had switched on inside me,” Philip recalls. By the time she was in middle school, Philip was creating vocal arrangements for large choral groups. Before long she had developed a career singing jingles for companies like Pepsi and performing commercial voice-overs.

Despite this early success, Philip was disillusioned by the adversarial leanings of many of her peers in Delhi. “A lot of young musicians were meeting at competitive events. There was a lot of hostility, which I found odd because if I liked someone’s music I wanted to support them.” This led to the 2003 creation of Artistes Unlimited, a platform for musicians to perform in a welcoming, unified environment. At the time, it was a novel idea. She explains, “We wanted to change the notion that only musical luminaries or famous composers were worthy of attention. At first it was tough because potential financial sponsors wanted to know who the megastar of the show was. We had 60 to 80 performers on stage at any given time, and no single person was the big shot.” However, audiences responded to the group’s festive blend of a cappella, pop, R&B, Indian classical, and other musical styles. Artistes Unlimited caught on and now has a rotating membership of 250 singers, actors, writers, and designers.

Philip reached a point in the group where she hit a creative ceiling, and Berklee proved the ideal place for her to branch out. “I had spent myself and needed new inputs and inspiration,” she says. Her achievements notwithstanding, Philip’s parents were still skeptical about her attending music school and moving so far from home.

“It took them two years to give me permission just to apply,” Philip recalls. “After I was accepted, they initially said no, but after I received a full scholarship plus support from an Indian foundation, they were supportive. When I finally arrived at Berklee, my musical world opened up. I was exploring Middle Eastern, African, and other musical styles. My network became truly global, and my parents finally understood the depth of what I was involved in.”

Less than two years after graduation, Philip was invited to join the Berklee faculty and created a niche by starting an Indian music ensemble. “There was Indian music at Berklee prior to my coming here, but I wanted to bring a performance element to it,” Philip notes. The ensemble is challenging and devoid of shortcuts. “I do a rigorous group and individual audition process,” she says “We sing in six or seven different languages, and the vocal technique can take months to develop. It’s an immersion process; the music reveals greater depth the more you listen.”

Participants in her ensembles are rewarded on many levels. “I try to instill a desire for genuine connection with their fellow students, to get to know the people they’re performing with on a deep level,” she explains. “I’ve designed exercises to help them remember each other’s names, favorite colors, and even what they like to eat. We discuss larger topics like career options, privilege, racism, conflict, and personal relationships. Making music is a spiritual process that can’t be done on a surface level. This is a crucial takeaway for my students.”

Most recently, she has worked with the Berklee City Music Program’s Clint Valladares to bring acclaimed Bollywood film composer A.R. Rahman to campus as part of the Berklee India Exchange, a program linking students with leaders in the thriving Indian entertainment field. Rahman, whose celebrated works include Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, will perform on October 24 at Symphony Hall with Berklee students and receive an honorary doctorate. Proceeds from the concert will be used to start a scholarship in his name. During his visit, Rahman will also lead a master class and work with students in the new 160 Massachusetts Avenue studios. “A.R. is a revolutionary in the film scoring industry,” Philip says with excitement. “It’s been a dream of mine to collaborate with him. The Berklee community is thrilled to have his presence here this fall.”

Philip’s collaborative spirit and work ethic provide her a full slate of musical activity outside the classroom. She is part of the renowned Women of the World ensemble, Bill Banfield’s Jazz Urbane, and her own quintet. She acknowledges, “I’m fortunate to work with people who dream as big as I do. My work can be difficult, but on another level it’s easy because I believe in it.” Music has given Philip a profound sense of well-being, and she sees her students acquiring the same benefits. “Berklee students share my belief that making music with others is about creating a sense of family and shared bliss. I’ve witnessed an intrinsic goodness in them. If they’re provided a supportive environment, they can’t help but flourish as artists.”

Watch Annette Philip's Berklee Indian Ensemble perform A. R. Rahman's 'Jiya Jale' here:

Ryan Fleming ’03, a guitarist and recording artist, is the assistant director of the Berklee Fund.