Berklee in Puerto Rico

Those who submitted their application by the preferred filing deadline of Friday, April 4, 2025, will receive their decision on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. 

This program is open to residents of Puerto Rico only. Berklee in Puerto Rico is designed for aspiring high school and college-aged musicians seeking to advance their musical knowledge and performance skills. You must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program, and you must have been playing your instrument (including singing, if you are a vocalist) for a minimum of six months to attend the program. You will need to submit supporting material demonstrating your musical experience and abilities. The preferred format is links to videos demonstrating your musical abilities.

The Berklee in Puerto Rico program includes the following:

• Harmony and Chord Scales: This lecture will demonstrate how to use contemporary harmony and chord scales to enhance your performance, improvisation, comping, and writing skills.
• Instrumental technique classes: You will participate in classes covering techniques specific to your instrument. Insights into practicing and improvisation will be presented.
• Ensembles: You will be assigned to an ensemble so you can apply the skills you've learned in lecture classes. You will perform in a final concert at the end of the program.
• Special lectures: Faculty and special guest artists will present master classes on the topics of composition, arranging, and songwriting. You will work in a helpful, noncritical environment with faculty who are world-renowned for their knowledge, teaching skills, and empathy with students.

Berklee in Puerto Rico is made possible with generous support from Make Music Happen PR and Berklee alumnus and program founder Luis Alvarez ’83.

This year, Berklee will offer a standard performance track and a college-credit performance track.

All candidates will receive the same evaluation process, regardless of their preference for program track, so when you fill out the application, please select the option that interests you the most. Applicants who are not accepted to the college credit track may still be accepted to the standard performance program.

Learn more about each of the options below.

Standard Performance Program (Tuition: $95 USD) 

This is the main performance program. Participants in the standard program take classes in instrumental or vocal technique, theory, and improvisation, and participate in an ensemble that will perform as part of the final concert on the last day of the program. See more details in the "What is the program like?" section.

Performance Program for College Credit Track (Tuition: $300 USD)

A limited number of places are available in a track that allows eligible applicants to take the performance program for one college credit. This track is aimed toward students in high school or early in their college or university studies. Participants who successfully complete this track earn one college credit to be used toward future studies at Berklee or any institution that will accept this type of credit. 

Participants who are accepted into this track, in addition to taking the standard schedule of classes for the performance program, will have an additional requirement for a final presentation to the special lecture group as part of their afternoon classwork. They will be evaluated on both their performance in the final concert with their ensemble and their final presentation. Applicants who are accepted to this track will receive complete details after receiving their program decision. Applicants who are not accepted to the for-credit program may still be accepted to the standard program.

• Standard Performance Program: $95 USD
• Performance Program for College Credit: $300 USD

Escuela Libre de Música Antonio Paoli (ELMAP)
49 Calle Acosta,
Caguas, Puerto Rico 00725

Fernando Huergo, Professor of Bass and Berklee in Puerto Rico Academic Director
Rebecca Cline, Professor of Piano and Ensembles
Yoron Israel, Chair of Percussion
Eguie Castrillo, Associate Professor of Percussion
Nadia Washington, Instructor of Ear Training, Voice
Caio Afuine, Associate Professor of Ear Training, Guitar
Jeff Claassen, Professor of Harmony and Jazz Composition
Lauren Sevian, Associate Professor of Woodwinds
Jonathan Suazo, Instructor of Saxophone
Jason Camelio, Assistant Vice President of Berklee Global, Trombone 

Classes will generally run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day, from Monday through Saturday, with a one-hour break for lunch. Information for the final concert and closing ceremony on Sunday will be provided to students once they are accepted to the program.

You are required to make your own housing arrangements.

For more information, please contact:

Berklee Global Programs and Partnerships
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston Street, MS-855 GI
Boston, MA 02215-3693 U.S.A.
Telephone: 617-747-2700, or toll-free: 877-Berklee (U.S. and Canada)
Email: globalprograms@berklee.edu