Image by Holy Smoke Photography
By Alexandra Maes
People these days don’t like to say the “F Word.”
Feminism.
From “Free the Nipple” to “Time’s Up” everyone has their own definition of feminism, but no matter what your definition is, feminism in its true form is about equality, and as artists we need to change the narrative to be more about equal collaboration and representation.
Image source: fusion.tv/show/big-papi-needs-a-job/
For the first episode of the new Fusion television program Big Papi Needs a Job, the recently retired Boston Red Sox power hitter David Ortiz (Big Papi) visits Berklee to try his hand at percussion. In the episode, Ortiz gets lessons from percussion faculty member Eguie Castrillo and jams with students, all while reflecting on his deep connection to the music and rhythms of his home country, the Dominican Republic.
Below, a few of the students involved share their thoughts on the experience making tunes with the global legend.
“As a Dominican musician, having the opportunity to make music with Big Papi was incredible and unexpected. I would have never imagined that I would make music with the three times World Series winner. It was a reminder for me of how powerful music can be. Once we started singing ‘Compadre Pedro Juan,’ one of the most popular merengue songs in our country, he knew exactly how to play the güira without a rehearsal. Meeting him in person and learning his wonderful personality showed me that no matter how big you get, there’s always something new to learn.”
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of attending a benefit concert at the Berklee Performance Center, which featured a multi-star Americana cast comprised of Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Robert Plant, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids. The concert, titled Lampedusa, aimed to raise awareness for the current worldwide refugee crisis. Previous to the concert, I had no idea that 65 million people worldwide have been displaced. As I left the concert, I challenged with a choice—will I allow myself to react in despair, or will I choose to respond with hope?
In spring 2016, Bolivian student Luis Gamarra wrote and recorded the song “Yo Soy Inmigrante” to help change the tone of the national discourse surrounding immigration. Here, Gamarra shares his thoughts on the experience.
By Luis Gamarra
I am extremely lucky and blessed to be in this country as an immigrant. I arrived to the United States after winning a residency lottery offered by the U.S government. Only a few thousand families in the whole world get to have this opportunity. I decided to leave my family, my country and friends for the chance of making all the big ideas and goals in my head come true. Being 18 years old in a brand new country and having to work at 3 different jobs to pay for your bills is definitely not easy, but I knew a great opportunity would come if I kept working very hard.
By Belinda Huang
This past weekend, I had an amazing opportunity to play at Longfellow House, a historical site in Boston, through Berklee’s Summer in the City program. Being that I had never stayed in Boston for a summer yet, nor had I played a show in the city before, I was both nervous and excited.
Copyright © 2023 Berklee College of Music