A Berklee Footprint in New York
From the left: Stephen Webber (executive director of Power Station at BerkleeNYC), Pete Muller (Berklee trustee), Julie Menin (commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment), and Berklee President Roger H. Brown celebrate Berklee’s establishing a center in New York at the former Power Station recording studios.
Julie Menin, the commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, told the audience that the new project will support vital components of the city’s $21 billion music ecosystem. “That’s why we and our partners at [the city’s Economic Development Corporation] were thrilled to invest $6 million of city funds in this truly visionary partnership,” Menin said.
Stephen Webber, executive director of Power Station at BerkleeNYC, Roger Brown, and Berklee trustee Pete Muller—the moving force behind it all—gave details about the history of the project.
Rick DePofi ’79, known for his production, arranging, and engineering work for Paul McCartney, Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello, and composing for film, TV, and commercials, had originally suggested the idea for the studio to Muller.
In the course of the evening, Brown presented Berklee’s American Master Award to DePofi, stating, “You have done so much for the Berklee community. If you hadn’t recorded here and tossed around your crazy idea with Pete, we might not be here tonight.”
