Berklee is producing its first pop music concert this week in Mexico City, on October 7, with students and alumni from five Latin American countries. Some of the performers are finalists of the Berklee Canta en Español songwriting contest, one of who will be chosen as the winner; others are some of Latin America’s best-known rising stars, including Alexander Acha, a Latin Grammy nominee for Best New Artist. The concert will be taped for broadcast by the Televisa music channel Telehit. When it airs for the first of three showings on November 22, it will bring Berklee talent to unprecedented audiences in 60 Latin American countries. There is a potential for millions of people to see this event.

This project has been building for months. At the helm is Javier Samayoa, who just graduated from Berklee in May. Given the international impact that the event will have for Berklee’s visibility, its recruiting efforts in Spanish-speaking territories, and its relationships in Mexico City – the gateway to the global Latin music industry – one has to consider the training ground and real-world practicums that Samayoa had as a music business/management major.

On a rare break from the production details for the Berklee Canta en Espanol concert, Samayoa visited a Mexico City gift shop and exercised his inner Jedi warrior, a helpful trait for him these days.

Allen Bush
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