Cape Town

The Business of Music in Cape Town

On April 1, 2012

In Admissions, Alumni, Berklee on Tour, Faculty, Global Initiatives, Student Experience

The applause roared from the closed doors of The Fugard Theater on Friday morning as Mike Stern and Dave Weckl wrapped up their clinic as part of the Training and Development program at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Participants streamed out in the theater lobby for a brief recess, but just as quickly returned when the announcement for the music business lecture was announced.

Throughout the week, we have spoken with everyone from music promoters, ministry of arts and culture and education officials to interns assisting with the festival to musicians traveling from as far away as Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria. There is a general recognition of the high level of musical talent in Cape Town, South Africa and Africa as a whole. There is also a desire for careers in music to be seen a viable pathways for these musicians. It is with this understanding that director of training and development Craig Parks choose to have a focus on the business of music. And this is why we asked founder and chair of music business and management Don Gorder to make the trip to Cape Town with us this year.

Don Gorder sets the historical stage during his music business lecture in Cape Town.

Music Where It Counts: Update from Cape Town

Posted by jcamelio

On March 30, 2012

In Alumni, Berklee City Music, Berklee on Tour, Concerts, Faculty, Global Initiatives, Staff Experience

Jim Odgren works with talented young musicians from Guguletu as part of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

When the 6-year old trumpeter walked up on stage with this fellow band mates, we thought is was pretty cool. When he played the melody along with the band, we smiled with surprise. When he took chorus after chorus on a traditional South African tune our minds reeled at the potential.

How was it possible that this young boy, growing up in a place that affords so little in opportunity has been able to accomplish all that he has in so short a time?

This was the scene we encountered as we began our clinics for the Training and Development Program component of the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival in the township of Guguletu. In a packed-to-capacity community center hall, Jim led a two-hour session that feature a number of groups from the township. We jammed with the students. They taught us a few of their tunes, and we shared some of what we know. Walking out of the building, we were left speechless. My guess is that he was thinking what I was thinking. You cannot stop the music. It will always find a way.

Through my work in the Office of International Programs, I am given many opportunities to be out on the road for the college. We take the very best of the college with us to share what Berklee does and we seek to learn from our experiences — bringing that experience back to Boston. We visit colleges, universities, technical institutes and festivals. We hold a variety of events covering a range of musical topics. We do this to make the personal and musical connection. At the end of the day, an experience like the one we had in Guguletu is where it is at. It is where the music counts.

Global Outreach Through Music: Update from Cape Town

Posted by jcamelio

On March 29, 2012

In Admissions, Alumni, Berklee on Tour, Concerts, Faculty, Summer Programs

Soon after the team arrived in Cape Town, we were brought to the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s (CTIJF) opening event at The Fugard Theater. Festival founder Rashid Lombard, producer Billy Domingo and director of training and develop Craig Parks kicked the week off with an excellent showcase of student bands from Cape Town and Cape Flats.

Being that this is my first time to Cape Town, I did not know what to expect. We were truly surprised by the quality of musicianship and talent showcased by the 10 student bands that performed. Chair of music business/management Don Gorder, professor of woodwinds Jim Odgren, assistant director of admissions Gojko Damjanic and I made page upon page of notes identifying a number of exceptional students we heard.

The tough part was next. With all of this talent, we needed to select two students to received full-tuition awards to the 5 Week Summer Performance Program and two students to receive Berklee Online Awards for an online class of their choice. With the help of Craig Parks, we were able to select the following winners;

5 Week Full-Tuition Scholarships
• Drum Set – Megan Hilda Saayman
• Guitarist – Gavin David John Kemp

In Megan’s case, we noted her musical taste, groove and the fact that the beat never moved. She was locked in. For a young musician that has only been playing for three years, we were truly impressed by her musicianship.

We thought Gavin was the band leader. He has a presence both personally and musically. He demonstrated a fine level of skill as a lead player, accompanists and soloist.

Both of these fine, young musician were presented with their awards at the free concert held at Green Market Square on Wednesday evening. They were greeted with gracious applause. Megan was even asked to demonstrate her prowess as a drummer (see photo).

The winners of the Berklee Online awards are trumpeter Robin Kock and trombonist Steven Campbell. These young talented were part of the horn section for a fantastic band from Alexander Sinton High School.

We could have easily selected a number of other musicians for award from this student band festival. For now, we look forward to seeing Megan and Gavin in Boston this summer, and helping Robin and Steven expand their musical knowledge through their online courses.

Stay tuned for my next post about our clinics in Guguletu.

Award Receipient Megan Saayman at 2012 CTIJF

5 Week award winner Megan Saayman plays for a capcity audience at Green Market Square in Cape Town.

Africa’s Grandest Gathering: 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Posted by jcamelio

On March 27, 2012

In Admissions, Alumni, Berklee on Tour, Faculty, Global Initiatives, Staff Experience

We are in between auditions at The Fugard Theater in Cape Town, South Africa. As I look around the concert hall, I can see that the team at the Festival and ESP Afrika are serious professionals. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a world class event and one that we at Berklee are excited to be supporting.

The event has been sold out for a few weeks. The 2-day event will play host to 30K guests. The concert events will all be kicked off on Wednesday evening with a free public concert which will also see about 18K attendees. A quick glance at the list of acclaimed local and world renown artists helps to bring all of this into focus.

I am here with chair of music business and management/trumpeter Don Gorder, professor of woodwinds Jim Odgren and assistant director of admissions Gojko Damjanic. This week are supporting the Training and Development program. This includes checking out an impressive student jazz festival held on Sunday evening at The Fugard Theater, conducting a few days of auditions and interviews for candidates from across the African continent seeking to study at Berklee and giving a few days of lectures and master classes on a range of musical topics.

Throughout the week, I will be making posts on our work and the event. To start things off, I thought it would be cool to give you a glimpse of the natural beauty of the Cape area and what we saw coming in from the airport as we headed into town.

Table Mountain

Berklee Blogs

First-hand accounts of the Berklee experience

Tag: Cape Town

The Business of Music in Cape Town

Music Where It Counts: Update from Cape Town

Global Outreach Through Music: Update from Cape Town

Africa’s Grandest Gathering: 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival

I am interested in