BerkleeICE and the Brown Leadership Institute to Host High School Summer Program

The Creative Entrepreneurship Summer Program, running from July 5-15, will combine world-class educational instruction from both Brown University and Berklee faculty with hands-on experience to develop practical knowledge for leadership and creative entrepreneurship.

February 29, 2016

Berklee’s Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE), founded to inspire, educate and launch the next generation of creative entrepreneurs, and the Brown Leadership Institute announces a one-of-a-kind, precollegiate summer program for U.S. and international students. The program, running from July 5–15, 2016, will combine world-class educational instruction from both Brown University and Berklee faculty, graduate students, and other entrepreneurial leaders with hands-on experience to develop practical knowledge for leadership and creative entrepreneurship. Upon completion of this course, students will receive a joint certificate from the two schools and have increased ability to solve problems, analyze issues, and creatively collaborate.

In 2015, the program's inaugural year, students from China and Taiwan explored an innovative approach to studying entrepreneurship, using music as the underlying coaching language. Building on the success of the 2015 camp, Berklee partnered with Brown to expand this year's focus to not only music and creative entrepreneurship, but also socially responsible leadership. Berklee and Brown will welcome students from the U.S. and all over the world, including those from conflict-zone territories such as Israel and Cyprus. During the 10-day long program, students will spend one week in Boston on Berklee's vibrant campus to focus on creative entrepreneurship and five days in Providence on the Brown University campus to focus on socially responsible leadership. The immersive program will blend the principles of play, passion, and purpose to help students develop the mindset required to become young leaders.

“At BerkleeICE, we believe that music is a catalyst for cultural entrepreneurship and diplomacy, and we're thrilled to partner with Brown on such a dynamic course for precollege students this summer,” said Panos Panay, founding managing director of BerkleeICE. “This is a truly one-of-a-kind experience and we believe that exposing students from across the world to this type of original program will not only spur creative thinking, but also encourage students to create positive social change within their own communities.”

The 2016 summer program will feature workshops and lectures with world-renowned music professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs from the fields of technology, business, leadership and art, including esteemed faculty from Berklee and the Brown Leadership Institute. A sample of lecturers from last year include music professionals such as Grammy-award winning producer Prince Charles Alexander and Songwriting Department chair Bonnie Hayes, music industry entrepreneurs such as George Howard, artist and MIT lecturer Aithan Shapira, and IDEO partner Michael Hendrix. Outside of the program time, instruction will be enhanced with hands-on activities and visits to innovation labs, cultural institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, and a wide variety of extracurricular activities.

“Leadership is a collaborative process and Brown’s Leadership Institute helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of socially responsible leadership,” said Kisa Takesue, director of leadership programs at Brown University. “We are excited to team up with Berklee College of Music on this unique initiative that cultivates both creativity and leadership, inspiring youth to make a positive impact.”

Learn more about the Creative Entrepreneurship Summer Program.