2015 Scholarships – We are all winners!

Posted on by berkleecitymusic

This post was written by Dr. Krystal Banfield, Dean, Berklee City Music

“We all sat around the computer awaiting the answer! When I opened the college scholarship computer portal and saw that I was awarded a college scholarship! My entire family burst into tears. I had received the City Music full tuition college scholarship. Thank you! ”

This was shared by one of our City Music students having just received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. The African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child,” is true. We all have had some influence on our students, which has contributed to their success. Yet, how can we know success, if the evidence does not arrive in the way of a scholarship? These are questions we readily ask as we prepare our students by building their skills and guiding them so that they would have the capability to attain choices—to pursue their dreams, to be leaders in their communities, to have purpose, to be responsible, to have the ability to enrich their own lives and the lives of others. In doing so, we know it takes being committed to a concentric circle that includes you, your students and their families, their teachers, schools and the greater communities. But how can we create this for more of our students who by national statistics still fall far behind their more advantaged peers? It is possible to leverage our relationships collectively, to share what works, and be determined in our efforts as we look to endeavor earlier preparation for each student. Let us establish a national dialogue, with a goal to create a consistent standard that provides opportunities for each student who joins our community. But, first let’s celebrate our next cohort of 2015 scholarship awardees!

15 – Awarded City Music College Scholarships
Camden Repertory Theater
Campus Club Milledgeville
City Music Boston
Cleveland Music Settlement
East Bay Center-Performing Arts
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center
Phoenix Conservatory of Music
Project RYTMO
Richmond Youth Jazz Guild
Stax Music Academy

120 – City Music Summer Scholarships
2xSalt Ministry
A Place Called Home
Bahama Village Music Program
Boys & Girls Harbor
Camden Repertory Theater
Campus Club Milledgeville
City Music Boston
Cleveland Music Settlement
East Bay Center-Performing Arts
Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina
Fort Hayes Metro Education Center
Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Lincoln Park Perform Arts Center
Motivational Edge
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One World
Philadelphia Clef Club
Phoenix Conservatory of Music
Project RYTMO
Richmond Youth Jazz Guild
Sarah McLachlan School of Music
Sitar Center
Stax Music Academy
Tipitina’s Foundation
Wilmington Youth Jazz Band
Woodlawn Musical Arts/Audiostate 55

Emcee Kiki Haynes (Actress, Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse) and Walter McCarty (Assistant Coach, Boston Celtics) joined Berklee President Roger Brown, Associate Vice President for Education Outreach and Executive Director of Berklee City Music J. Curtis Warner, and Dean of City Music Krystal Banfield to present 18 Berklee City Music Network Students with full-tuition scholarships to Berklee College of Music
2014 College Scholarship Recipients with emcee Kiki Haynes, Walter McCarty, Berklee President Roger Brown, Associate Vice President for Education Outreach J. Curtis Warner, and Dean of City Music Krystal Banfield

Dean’s Set List: Stella By Starlight

Posted on by Arin Canbolat

This episode of the Dean’s Set List features students from three Berklee City Music Network sites performing “Stella by Starlight” by Victor Young.  The band features City Music Summer Scholars Drew Anderson on trumpet from the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild, Max Castro on congas from the Boys & Girls Harbor, Emilio Mendez on piano and Miguel Santana-Morales on upright bass from Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina.

The Dean’s Set List features students from around the Berklee City Music Network performing in theoffice of our Dean, Dr. Krystal Banfield.  In order for a student to be selected they must fulfill certain criteria pertaining to their academic standing, Berklee City Music standing, involvement in their community, and musicianship.  It is a musical Dean’s List.

NOTE: Be sure to watch it in 1080p HD by adjusting the video settings using the gear icon on the bottom right of the video.

Dean’s Set List: Just the Two of Us

Posted on by Arin Canbolat

Our next episode of the Dean’s Set List features students from four Berklee City Music Network sites performing Bill Wither “Just the Two Us” made famous on his recording with Grover Washington, Jr.  The band features Thomas Stewart on vocal from Campus Club Milledgeville, Jonathan Acevedo on tenor saxophone from Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina, Joshua Sutherland on keys from City Music Boston, and Larry Monroe on guitar, Antonio Robinson on electric bass, and Cameron Cephas on percussion from The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts.

The Dean’s Set List features students from around the Berklee City Music Network performing in the office of our Dean, Dr. Krystal Banfield.  In order for a student to be selected they must fulfill certain criteria pertaining to their academic standing, Berklee City Music standing, involvement in their community, and musicianship.  It is a musical Dean’s List.

NOTE: Be sure to watch it in 1080p HD by adjusting the video settings using the gear icon on the bottom right of the video.

Dean’s Set List: Emilio Mendez, Erica Parra, and Gabriel Rivera

Posted on by Arin Canbolat

This month’s Dean’s Set List video takes us to Puerto Rico and Harlem featuring Latin music performed by Erica Parra from the Boys & Girls Harbor, and Emilio Mendez and Gabriel Rivera from de Escuela De Bellas Artes De Carolina.

All three students were City Music Summer Scholars this past summer when the episode was recorded.  Erica Parra was senior in high school and received a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music from Berklee City Music, and Emilio, a junior in high school, received a $14,000 scholarship from Berklee College of Music.

These three young talented musicians had never rehearsed together before, and made up everything on the spot.  We hope you enjoy.

To learn more about the Dean’s Set List please visit our previous post.

Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina

Posted on by Arin Canbolat

Last week Clint and I traveled to Puerto Rico to visit Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina, a Berklee City Music Network member.  While there we met with the organization’s leadership, teachers, and students.  We attended classes, private lessons, and ensemble rehearsal and heard some great music.  Check back next week for a blog post on the concert we attended during our visit.  Below are pictures of a Berklee PULSE class and private lessons.

Below is a picture of the members of Berklee City Music and Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina.  From left to right: Angel Vigo, Music Director-Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina; Clint Valladares, Director of Operations and Outreach-Berklee City Music National; Yanira Santana, Dean-Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina; Louis Rodriguez Dominguez, Director-Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina; and Arin Canbolat, National Field Coordinator-Berklee City Music.