Yoshie Nakayama, from Tokyo, is a 4th semester Contemporary Writing and Production major and trombone principal student. She also studies jazz vocals, and vocal ensemble.
こんにちは。早いもので９月も今週で終わりですね。
みなさまいかがお過ごしでしょうか。
こちらは、週末土曜に毎年恒例バークリーが開催する野外ジャズフェスティバル‘Beantown Jazz Festival’がありました。
一本の道路を通行止めにして、道路の両端に２つのステージ、そして道沿いにある大きな芝生の広場にメインの大きなステージを設置して、お昼前から午後６時まで、音楽とおいしい食べ物に溢れた入場無料のイベントです。
By: Jason Camelio, Director of International Programs
We have closed out another year at Berklee in Puerto Rico. The final concert, held on Sunday, June 3rd showcased the fine talent and hard work of the students and the faculty members from the week-long program. In just over 4-hours, 16 bands performed dozens of pieces of music running the stylistic gamut. From small group jazz and rock to the hair-raising large jazz orchestra and choirs, the show was a fantastic success. Huge thanks goes out to Carolyn Wilkins, Darcel Wilson, Greg Badolato, Eguie Castrillo, Ken Cervenka, Rick Peckham, Bob, Pilkington and Casey Scheuerell.
As a result of the work of the Berklee faculty members in Puerto Rico for the past 17-years, we have seen a steady rise in the level of skill and musicianship in the young students here. This increase in talent has made it possible for more and more students to continue their studies at Berklee as full-time students. From Miguel Zenon and Ruben Amador to Nannette Velez and Carlos Ayala to Kalani Trinidad and Edmar Colon…the list will go on and on. Special thanks goes to trustee and Berklee alum Luis Alvarez for his support of this event, Larry Monroe and Greg Badolato for their dedication to the program over these years and to Joey Sala for all the work he does to help us pull off a successful program year after year.
And with the close of each Berklee in Puerto Rico program we have an awards ceremony. The awards include Berklee Online courses, awards from the Conservatorio de Artes del Caribe, 5 Week Summer Performance Program Scholarships and awards towards Full-Time Study. For the past few years, we been conducting auditions and interviews (A&I) at the program in order to assist students on their path to Berklee. The first year that we conducted A&I at the program, we were able to jump from awarding $70,000 in partial tuition scholarships based on only nominations from faculty members to approximately $300,000 based on the A&I — which allows for acceptance consideration to the college and higher scholarship award potential. Last year, we cleared the $700,000 mark. This year, we have hit a major watershed. With the level of talent at a steady rise, it was inevitable. This year the director of scholarships Tod Oliviere was excited to announce that the total amount of awards being made to Berklee’s programs in Boston exceed $1 million dollars.
2012 Berklee in Puerto Rico Scholarship Winners
So, here is what $1 million dollars looks like. Congratulations!
今日和！小西です。なんと春セメスターも来週で終わりです。
ただいま、期末考査に追われて先生も学生も大変忙しい時期です。
僕もこの時期は疲れたと眠いしか言ってない様な気もしますが、元気です！
ここ数日は雨続きですが、先週末は見事に晴れ渡り、
ちょっと日本 春祭りと言うお祭りに顔を出してきました！！！
学校から２駅離れた所にコプリースクエアと呼ばれる場所です。
２駅と言っても歩いて10分程度なので、僕は歩いて行きました！
普段はこんな感じで、教会に囲まれる様な形の公園です。
とっても綺麗な場所で、平日休日に関わらず割と人が集まる場所です。
今年初めての開催らしいと話を聞いていて、日本食の出店があると聞き、
これはたこ焼きを食べるチャンスだと、意気揚々と向かったのですが。。。。
この人出で、壮絶な混雑様でした。
更に、食べ物を買うには別で食券を買い求め、
その後にまたまた壮絶な列をなして漸く辿り着けるとの事。
腹ぺこウキウキで会場に着いた際には食券は売り切れ、
それぞれ（特にラーメンが人気でした） は２時間超の長蛇の列。
完全に心が折れてしまい、自分で焼きそばでも作ろうと諦めていました。笑
そうして放浪していると、知り合いのブースが！
友人のバリトン吹きKajitoさんとSohta さんです。
二人とも日本人ですが（Kajitoはハーフです） 、
知り合った時に英語で自己紹介しているので漢字を知らないことに今気付きました。
このブースは去年からSohtaさんが立ち上げた活動で、
Sing for Japanというアルバムを作って、売り上げを寄付しているそうです。
Sohtaさんは元々エンジニアとしてボストンで仕事をしていて、
バークリー卒なので、週に数日学校でエンジニアとして働いても居ます。
バークリーは入学時に求められている基準をクリアしたPCを持っていない限り、
自分のMacBook Proを買う事が義務づけられています。
そしてそのPCをset upするときにSohtaさんに出会いました◎
こちらに奥様も居て、写真は撮り忘れてしまいましたが可愛い赤ちゃんも居ます。
そのSohtaさんが知り合いの作曲家、演奏者に声を掛けて作編曲、演奏、
そしてミキシングやマスタリングをプロデュースして出来たのが、これ。
一年に一枚のペースで作って行けたら、と本人は言っていました。
勿論CDは変えますし、iTunes Storeでも帰るので、興味がある方は是非！
とっても素敵な曲達が多くて、僕の友達も歌っていました。
切欠は震災かもしれませんが、アルバムとして素晴らしい作品です。
（左のKajitoが凄いいい雰囲気ですが、彼はバリトン奏者で、左がSohtaさんです。）
さて、そのブースで暫く話していると、遠くから音楽が。。。
それは日本が誇るバークリー教授陣のTiger大越引き連れたアンサンブルメンバー！
日本のトラディショナルや彼のオリジナルを演奏していました。
このアンサンブルに居る友達は仲良しが多かったので観ていた楽しかったです。
しかしこの日は良い天気ながらも強風。。。
演奏しながら譜面を手で押さえたり飛ばされたのを拾いに行ったりと大変そうでした。
そんなこんなで大好評だったボストン日本 春祭り、
来年はたこ焼きを食べたいと思います。
さて、それでは来週に終わる春学期へと向けて、
ラストスパートをかけて行きたいと思います！
次の夏学期が始まるまではNYCで過ごそうと思っていますが、
その前に更新できるかとは思います！
今回はちょっと短いですが、ご容赦の程を。
それでは皆様また次回！
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.
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.
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