The FAB Makes Magic Happen at Power Station at BerkleeNYC
Renovations, which began in January, will preserve the iconic studios while adding state-of-the-art spaces such as a black box theater, a video control room, a virtual-reality lab, and multiple classrooms and ensemble rehearsal spaces.
The generous support of Berklee trustee Pete Muller made the project possible. He and former trustee Jeff Walker are the founding members of the Founders Advisory Board, appropriately nicknamed “the FAB,” a group of Berklee enthusiasts who are committed to the vision of establishing a strong Berklee presence in New York City.
FAB members are the sounding board for ideas about what BerkleeNYC will become as it aspires to transform arts education; provides a center for community and innovation; and continues to serve New York’s music, television, and film industries. Members also provide crucial funding for the realization of the project.
During a recent FAB dinner in Studio A—accompanied by a piano performance by Billy Joel music director David Rosenthal B.M. ’81—the group discussed how BerkleeNYC can play a role in finding solutions to the challenges that face the music industry.
At the beginning of 2019, the FAB increased to eight members: Muller, David Abrams, Phill and Elizabeth Gross, John Connaughton, Jim and Judy O’Brien, Jeff Shames, and Jeff Walker.
FAB member benefits include a named scholarship for a deserving N.Y.C. public school student to attend BerkleeNYC’s educational seminars; member attendance at exclusive concerts, recordings, and events; and the opportunity for the member to host an event in the historic studio.
People interested in learning more about the FAB and BerkleeNYC can reach out to BerkleeNYC’s director of development, Gavin Berger, at gberger@berklee.edu.
