In May of 1999, David Bowie offered our graduating class humor, advice, and inspiration in his Commencement address. “[Music has] been both my doorway of perception and the house that I live in. I only hope that it embraces you with the same lusty life force that it graciously offered me.”
RIP, David Bowie. It’s a sad day, but your music, words, and inspiration live on.
Dear colleagues,
“I challenge students to think for themselves and be accountable for their own learning. It’s very personal. Even in a class of 15 or so, I tell my students, ‘The same rules I give you, I use myself. Strive for excellence. Don’t let your minimum become your maximum.”
The words above come from Armsted Christian, professor in the Voice Department, and it is with great sadness that I write to tell you that Armsted passed away suddenly on the morning of Monday, January 4 after a long battle with sarcoidosis, a condition that affected his lungs and caused severe scarring of his lung tissue. This is truly shocking, since only one week ago, Armsted wrote from the hospital that he was feeling much better and making wonderful progress back to wellness. At that time, Armsted also wrote, “I am forever humbled by the power of LOVE.”
Jordan Lockaby, Project Manager for the Dean of Admissions, writes from Berklee’s Gracenotes trip in New Orleans.
One week after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast with winds up to 175 miles per hour President Barack Obama addressed our horrified nation.
“In the coming weeks, as the images of the immediate crisis fade and this chamber becomes consumed with other matters, we will be hearing a lot about lessons learned and steps to be taken… Once we stabilize the situation, this country will face an enormous challenge in providing stability for displaced families over the months and years that it will take to rebuild.”
This autumn marks ten years since the hurricane took almost 2,000 lives, and there is still work to be done to repair New Orleans.
Alexia Riner was one of several students selected to travel with Berklee’s Interdisciplinary Arts Institute Ensemble to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil in July 2014. The trip included an exchange at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), where BIAI members collaborated with UFBA students and share their research in interdisciplinary production, modular synthesizer design, and interactive music apps, and culminated in a concert at the 3rd Bahia Biennale at the Goethe-Institut theater. Read more with our student blog posts from Brazil, view Alexia’s photos from the trip, or read the official press releases in English and Portuguese.
Going to Brazil on behalf of the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute was an unforgettable experience. We were exposed to an entirely new culture that opened my eyes and ears to the arts of Brazil.
Before going we studied the music of enigmatic Swiss/Brazilian musican Walter Smetak. He worked as a cellist, luthier, improvisor and had a major and mentored Brazilian luminaries Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Smetak won a prize for research in the 1st Biennale and taught at the Universidade Federal da Bahia that hosted our exchange along with the Biennale.
Jason Lim was one of several students selected to travel with Berklee’s Interdisciplinary Arts Institute Ensemble to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil in July 2014. The trip included an exchange at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), where BIAI members collaborated with UFBA students and share their research in interdisciplinary production, modular synthesizer design, and interactive music apps, and culminated in a concert at the 3rd Bahia Biennale at the Goethe-Institut theater. Read more with our student blog posts from Brazil, view photos from the trip, or read the official press releases in English and Portuguese.
Monday 14th July. Day one in Bahia after arriving the previous night. We met Christiano Figueiró, the faculty member who leads the body of students we were collaborating with. First step was to source power adapters so we could use our computers and instruments. My biggest concern on arrival was whether or not I would even be able to power my modular synth. I own a Doepfer A-100 case with a PSU suited for US 110 volts AC standard. During my layover in Sao Paulo I noticed that many power sockets in and around the airport were 220 volts, which set alarm bells ringing! Thankfully the region of Salvador uses 110V as standard so I just needed a socket adapter.
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