Berklee today is the official alumni publication of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a forum for contemporary music and musicians.
Issue link: http://berkleetoday.epubxp.com/i/827757
10 Berklee today One year ago, connecting students with music industry heavyweights such as hip-hop artist and social ac- tivist Talib Kweli; David Dorn '86, Apple Music's senior director; and in- ternational music producer, violinist, and live show designer Laura Alluxe Escudé, wasn't on anyone's radar. But on March 31, Berklee held its Career Jam, a confab featuring those mentioned above and others in pre- sentations, workshops, auditions, and mentoring sessions for the more than 1,500 students who attended. As well, employers were on hand to recruit students for internships and full-time jobs, and students were treated to free professional headshots for their LinkedIn profiles and press kits, and Wix.com offered consultations on website development. Career Jam highlights included a keynote address with Kweli and Dorn. Panos Panay B.M. '94, founder and managing director of Berklee's Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE), inter- viewed the music moguls, who of- fered advice about making it in the music industry. Music director and producer Gil Smith II '99 and his agent audi- tioned students for summer and fall tours that Smith is producing. "There was amazing energy the entire day," Smith recalls. "We found some real gems and are looking forward to working with them." Melody Ewing B.M. '07, asso- ciate director, business affairs/A&R; administration for Sony Music Entertainment, participated in the Art of A&R; panel alongside senior vice presidents of A&R; for Republic Records and Columbia Records. Other presenters and employers included Warner Music Group, Cirque du Soleil, iZotope, Vevo, Warner/ Chappell Music, Nashville and Boston public schools, director and choreog- rapher Otis Sallid, Max Martin's song hub Auddly, and Derek Thompson, a senior editor at The Atlantic magazine. Lucas Carbonneau B.M. '17 and Christina Azarian B.M. '17, dual music business/management and profes- sional music majors, helped produce the event. "It is beyond exciting to see an opportunity like this crafted for soon-to-be graduates to network and meet potential employers, and for A New Era of Giving at Berklee Career Jam Offers Students Access to Industry Leaders By Mirek Vana '01 By Stefanie Henning Musical director Gil Smith II '99 auditioned students for upcoming tours during Career Jam. David Dorn '86, senior director of Apple Music, participated in the keynote interview. Nelson L. Huang and his wife Phoebe Chen Huang recently became the first Chinese-American parents of a Berklee student to make a major gift to the col- lege. The gift from the Huangs, parents of student Max Chen '20, signals a new era of giving at Berklee and underscores the global character of the college. A few years ago, there were less than 20 students from China on campus. Today, Chinese students have become the largest group among Berklee's international student popula- tion. During the years the Huangs have lived in America, they have retained their cultural heritage, and their gift will promote understanding and cele- brate the importance of that heritage. The Huang's gift supports the Wang Leehom Scholarship at Berklee, named for Chinese-American super- star Wang Leehom '99, a singer-song- writer and cultural ambassador who has sold millions of albums around the world. The gift will also pro- vide scholarships for continuing stu- dents majoring in Music Production & Engineering (MP&E;) and Electronic Production and Design (EPD). It's fitting to note that these two departments are at the forefront of in- novation at the college, preparing stu- dents for the entertainment and media landscape that has been transformed by the sweeping tide of new technol- ogies. The Huangs' gift will also en- able the MP&E; and EPD departments to jointly expand the electronic dance music artist-in-residence programing. lower-semester students to gain in- sights about the current industry and real-world experience through intern- ships," Carbonneau said. Career Jam is an early outcome of a college-wide initiative to elevate student career services. In 2016, Betsy Newman, senior vice president for student enrollment and engagement, shared Berklee's commitment to de- sign "a culture of career mindedness" via a strategy for career development and education that will enable stu- dents and alumni to fully realize their artistic, creative, and career potential. A committee of senior leaders from Berklee and Boston Conservatory at Berklee has been working to help shape an innovative, student-centered, long-term strategy for career services to support stu- dents and alumni from both insti- tutions. Consequently, the Office of Experiential Learning and the Career Development Center were merged in June 2016 to form the Berklee Career Center. The new, unified department partners with BerkleeICE, Alumni Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other related departments to support stu- dents' career goals and aspirations. The annual on-campus Career Jam, which at its core has provided students the opportunity to learn from musicians, artists, and entrepre- neurs, was guided, informed, and de- signed by students who helped to manage and produce the event. For information about getting involved with future events and programs at the Career Center, con- tact Stefanie Henning at shenning@ berklee.edu. From the left: Phoebe Chen Huang, Roger Brown, and Nelson Huang Making a Berklee education af- fordable is a primary objective out- lined in Berklee's Vision for 2025 statement. To that end, half of the funds raised through Soundbreaking: The Campaign For Berklee, will be designated for scholarships. We thank the Huangs for their gift to Soundbreaking to support Berklee's continuing students. "We have an obligation to help make Berklee affordable to people from all walks of life," says Berklee's president Roger H. Brown. "We are doing this by raising money and ex- panding scholarship support, which has grown from $9 million in 2003, and is forecasted to reach $47.3 million in 2017. That's more than a 500 per- cent increase over 13 years." Nelson Huang has worked in the petroleum and real estate industries with extensive business dealings in the U.S. and Asia. He recently joined the Berklee Presidential Advisory Council and will help Berklee expand its role in China. Photos by Taiga Kunii