Berklee Comes Up Big at Boston Music Awards

Berklee alumni, faculty, and staff gain a total of nine awards at the Boston Music Awards this year.

December 13, 2012

Berklee alumni, faculty, and staff made a strong showing in the 2012 Boston Music Awards, earning nine awards in total. YouTube phenomenon Karmin (check out Karmin’s rise to fame), featuring 2008 alumni Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, came away with Artist of the Year. The 25th annual awards night was held December 2 at Boston’s Liberty Hotel.

Here's a complete list of Boston Music Award winners with Berklee associations:

 

Artist of the Year

Karmin — Amy Heidemann '08 and Nick Noonan '08

 

Rock Artist of the Year

Ribs — featuring alumni Chris Oquist '04 (bass, drums) and Keith Freund '09 (bass, vocals)

 

Pop/R&B Artist of the Year

Alumna Shea Rose ’11

 

Americana Artist of the Year

Kingsley Flood — featuring Berklee staff members Nick Balkin, publicist with media relations, and Jenée Morgan, catalog librarian

 

Gospel Artist of the Year

Berklee Reverence Gospel Choir — directed by Dennis Montgomery III, associate professor of ensembles

 

International Artist of the Year

Evolfo Doofeht — featuring alumnus Matthew Gibbs '12 (guitbox, vocals), Benjamin Allen Adams '12 (trombone), and students Rafferty Swinkage (keys, accordian, vocals), Ronnie Lanzilotta (bass), Tyler Kion (alto saxophone), Brian Seymour (tenor saxophone), Kai Sorensen (trumpet), and Alex Kemper (percussion)

 

Jazz Artist of the Year

Omar Thomas — assistant professor in Berklee’s Harmony Department

 

Video of the Year

“252” Gem Club — featuring students Christopher Barnes, Kristen Drymala

 

Best Boston Artist Who Doesn’t Live in Boston

Passion Pit — Ian Hultquist '08 (keyboards, guitar); Ayad Al Adhamy '09 (synthesizer, samples); Jeff Apruzzese '08 (bass, synth bass); and Nate Donmoyer '08 (drums)