Record $1.75 Million Raised at Berklee Encore Gala

The eighteenth annual Encore Gala, which drew more than 900 guests, raised money for the Berklee City Music Program.

October 19, 2012

Over 900 guests joined together for a musical extravaganza at the Westin Copley Place on Saturday, October 13, for Berklee College of Music’s 18th annual Encore Gala to benefit the Berklee City Music Program. Berklee City Music brings year-round music education and individualized mentoring to underserved fourth- through twelfth-graders. The Boston-born program—now nationwide in 37 cities—grants young people a music education regardless of financial means or location, and awards scholarships for summer and full-time study at Berklee's Boston campus.

This year, the event raised more than $1.75 million, a record for the Encore Gala. Acclaimed recording artists the Family Stone, including three founding members of the iconic soul/R&B band Jerry Martini, Cynthia Robinson, and Greg Errico, performed high-energy hits like Dance to the Music and Everyday People. Other special guest performers included multiplatinum Israeli rock icon David Broza; Scratch Ambassadors, an ensemble of turntable students and acoustic musicians directed by Stephen Webber; and the renowned Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Partygoers dined and danced to the sounds of more than 150 faculty, alumni, and student musicians performing jazz, salsa, world music, hip-hop, country, and blues.

A highlight of the evening was a performance by 15-year old Quinton Monteiro, a student at the Berklee City Music Network site at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, Pennsylvania. Monteiro brought the audience to its feet with his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The live and silent auctions featured exotic getaways, a trip to the 2012 Grammy Awards and the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Gala honoring Bruce Springsteen, signed artwork from Berklee alumnus Quincy Jones ’51, H ’83, a VIP trip to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, and private concert with Livingston Taylor.

Bain Capital Children’s Charity served as the presenting sponsor of the event. The lead sponsor was Abrams Capital, and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and Subaru of New England were co-lead sponsors. Paul Ciriello, Kristine Higgins, Carmichael Roberts, and David Patrick served as event cochairs. For more information about donating to Berklee City Music, visit Berklee.edu/giving.

Liz Lupton is a publicist at Berklee College of Music. You may reach her at llupton@berklee.edu.