Berklee Blogs

First-hand accounts of the Berklee experience

Author: Liz

Berklee at the Panama Jazz Festival!

Hola! My name is Liz Lupton. I’m a publicist in Berklee’s Office of Media Relations, and I’ve followed students from our Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) and our admissions reps to the Panama Jazz Festival in Panama City.

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Blogging from Phoenix – Auditions and Interviews in Arizona

Blue skies, sunshine, cacti, and music.

Liz Burg here, I’m a publicist in Berklee’s Office of Media Relations.

I’m on the road with the Berklee admissions team in Phoenix, Arizona, scouting prospective students for Fall 2011. Over the past two days, we met about 40 studentss hoping for an invitation to attend Berklee in September. Talented young musicians traveled from around the Southwest and as far as Texas, Wyoming, and even British Columbia to hopefully perform at their best for two Berklee faculty members and interview with a member of Berklee’s admissions department.

One unique aspect of Berklee auditions is the involvement of student ambassadors. Sixth semester students Athena Frost and Tara Comes accompanied us on the road to greet prospective students and answer their questions (or their parents’ questions!) about student life at Berklee. Meeting student ambassadors like Athena and Tara can give prospective students an honest look into life at Berklee. Check out the video after the jump to listen to Athena and Tara answer some of my questions about being student ambassadors.

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Berklee Presents Free Tunes on Georges Island – Saturday, July 24

Hoping to get that “worlds away” feeling on a sun-soaked island this weekend? Look no further than Boston’s own Harbor Islands for an afternoon of relaxation and free music, courtesy of Berklee and the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

This Saturday (7/24) marks the second installment of Berklee’s 3-concert “Take No Prisoners: Berklee at Fort Warren” series.

Featuring music by Nini & Ben, Women of the World and MGB, Georges Island will transform into Boston’s best outdoor music venue for 3 hours of back-to-back performances starting at noon.

The best part? The only cost associated with the concert is the ferry ticket – $14 for adults, $8 for  kids. Ferries direct to Georges Island depart from Long Wharf North in Boston and from the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy. Click here to see the ferry schedule.

The third (and final!) free Berklee concert on Georges Island takes place on August 21 at noon.

If you’re wondering what “Take No Prisoners” is all about, check out these performance videos from this summer’s first concert on Georges Island on June 19, and check out artist videos from the same date after the jump.

Tais Alvarenga

Folk Arts Quartet

Russell Lacy

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In the Brooklyn area? Check out the J Dilla Ensemble in action.

Tomorrow (July 10, 2010), Berklee’s own J Dilla Ensemble will take the stage at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. The festival takes the cake as the largest hip-hop cultural gathering in the NYC area; last year, the festival drew over 8,000 people. The ensemble is performing from 3:00 p.m. -3:25 p.m. and will also perform between other artists’ sets from noon-2:45 p.m.

A few weeks ago, I caught up with the ensemble’s faculty advisor, Brian ‘Raydar’ Ellis, and even got some of their rehearsal on tape.

Two students in the group, Taylor Gordon and Dane Orr, were also kind enough to let me catch them on the flip cam, too.

(View all the videos in one place after the jump.)

Anyone Brooklyn-bound this weekend should check out the ensemble for a show that’s not to be missed!

Student Dane Orr Interview

Student Taylor Gordon Interview

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Sneak Peek: J Dilla Ensemble Rehearsal

Hello, I’m Liz Burg, one of Berklee’s newest staff members. Earlier this week, I caught up with Berklee’s J Dilla Ensemble as they rehearse for their upcoming performances at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Yes, you read that correctly; in a matter of days, Berklee’s own J Dilla Ensemble is taking center stage at what promises to be one of the largest cultural gatherings of the hip-hop community (last year’s festival drew over 8000 people!).

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