Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment Industry

Berklee’s spring Signature Series continues with Career Jam Concert: The Award Show on Friday, April 5, a concert and award ceremony that celebrates the accomplishments of students across the community. The concert will cap Career Jam 2024, an annual interactive networking event that connects students with professionals from all aspects of the music and entertainment industry, offering opportunities to engage with, learn from, and perform for some of the most influential figures in the business. This full day of seminars, workshops, listening sessions, and auditions will culminate with the Career Jam Concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, where select awardees will have the opportunity to perform their original work in front of top music and entertainment executives from around the world.

As part of the rehearsal process for the show, the student performers work with industry experts who provide vocal coaching, feedback on songs and productions, and insights on A&R and branding. Among these are award-winning singer-songwriter and Berklee alumna Courtney Harrell ’01, the casting and lead producer for America’s Got Talent; veteran choreographer Sunny Walters, who has performed with Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Hugh Jackman; and Ericka Coulter, senior vice president of A&R at Warner Records and founder of TheBasement Series, a popular Los Angeles–based performance platform that highlights emerging artists from all over the world.

“TheBasement Series is about giving rising stars a chance to show the world who they are as artists, and to provide and create an environment where both the the performer and the audience can be a part of that special live moment when a star emerges," said Coulter, who will be presenting The Art of Artist Development panel at this year's Career Jam. "Every time I come to Berklee, I am inspired and impressed with the level of talent and artistry coming out of this community. It speaks to my core belief in the importance of fostering the next generation of artists. I’m so excited to bring TheBasement Series along for this unforgettable experience.”

This year’s production is driven entirely by original student contributions—from the music to the arrangements to the choreography—and reflects a collaborative effort drawing from many different sources of creative inspiration. Featured in the setlist for the concert are reinterpretations of songs from renowned singer-songwriter and producer FINNEAS and singer-songwriter and Berklee alumna Ashe ’15—celebrating their participation in Career Jam as the keynote speakers. The concert is produced by Berklee’s content and video production team led by Michael Borgida, director of concert and video production.

“The focus of this concert is to provide a platform for the students to showcase original work and highlight their individual artistic voices through a cohesive sonic narrative,” said Andres Gonzalez-Cardona, senior audio creative producer. “There is also a tremendous amount of musical diversity, yet the students have been able to reconcile these contrasting visions through a great deal of collaboration and interplay, resulting in a seamless body of work that feels less like a compilation showcase and more like one big song.”

Awards will be presented to more than 30 students for categories that include New Artist, Songwriting, Production, Composition, Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, Choreography, Scoring, Music Direction, Arranging, and Music Business. The featured awardees and performers were chosen by peers and faculty through a highly selective audition process from hundreds of submissions.

“The Career Jam concert represents a tremendous opportunity for student performers to put their creativity and passion on full display for an audience of industry professionals,” said Stefanie Henning, associate vice president, career strategy and services. “Taking the stage in front of music publishers, record labels, music directors, and artists is a unique opportunity for our aspiring artists to showcase their talents.”

Career Jam Concert: The Award Show takes place on Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. This is a seated event. Admission is free but a ticket is required; advanced tickets are available here. The concert is also accessible via Livestream.

Watch the concert film of the first-ever Berklee Career Jam Concert: The Award Show: