Chicago West Community Music Center (CWCMC) participated in the launching of cultural exchange trips between Chicago’s West Side and the city of Santo Andrè, Brazil. Several CWCMC staff, youth, musicians and a local artist traveled to Brazil from March 24th through April 3rd to take part in an exchange of cultural ideas, creating music performances and producing several large scale, community-based public murals. This summer, the program will send several youth artists from Brazil to work with young people in the East Garfield Park community, participating in a music program at Chicago West Community Music Center.
The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance received a MacArthur Foundation grant allowing the music teachers with Chicago Community West Music Center, Charles Li, Darlene and Howard Sandifer and two students, David Houston and Jamaal Crowder, to travel to Brazil. Read More »
While the path to success can seem limited to those with the greatest means, for close to twenty years Berklee City music has sought to connect students from under-served communities to a rich musical education. This video, presented at last year’s Berklee City Music Gala and hosted by WCVB-TV Boston’s Liz Brunner, highlights the many accomplishments of Berklee City Music graduates.
Please enjoy watching Berklee City Music in action, and while you’re at it, get involved!
Tuesday, April 3rd was an exciting night for Berklee City Music as six City Music High School Academy students sang our nations anthem to fans at the TD Garden in downtown Boston. While the Celtics geared up to take on the San Antonio Spurs, Wendy Chung, Ava Dudani, Rachel McLean, Elideusa Gomes-Almeida, Rebecca Demmellash and Grace Mann brought 19,000 spectators to a rousing cheer with their rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Read More »
Teenagers from A Place Called Home (APCH), a Berklee City Music Network partner in South Central Los Angeles, recently joined Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray on stage at the Conan O’Brian show. They joined Gray to perform the song “Teenagers” off of her new album Covered.
APCH Music Director and Berklee alumna Charyn Harris worked with her colleague and APCH instructor Jeffrey Connor to make it all happen. Harris explained that, “A Place Called Home works with professional working musicians who are also instructors. We were fortunate to have Jeffrey Connor facilitate this great and inspiring opportunity for the kids to work with such an amazing artist”.
Also involved in the once in a lifetime opportunity was another Berklee alumnus, Zoux who is the musical director for the R&B soul singer-songwriter.
Vocalist, songwriter and Berklee alumna Lalah Hathaway ’94 just visited Berklee to celebrate the dedication of the new Africana Studies Program, perform at the Berklee Performance Center, and conduct a master class with Berklee City Music Boston students. Ms. Hathaway also sat down with Shea Rose ’11 and discussed her experiences at Berklee and beyond, her perspective on the music industry, and her experience with BCMN member Stax Music Academy.
Please enjoy this video and some words of wisdom from this gifted artist!
