BGJI to Tour Africa
This year, Berklee will enhance its presence in Africa. Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), led by Artistic Director Danilo Pérez, will embark on two tours of West Africa.
During these tours, the student and faculty members of the BGJI will present a series of musical performances, clinics, master classes, and workshops. Arranged by the U.S. diplomatic missions in the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Togo, the first trip will span 12 days during February and March. The group will return to Africa in September for 14 days in Cameroon and Gabon. The grant was awarded to the BGJI by Africa Regional Services (ARS), a branch of the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs and a center for cultural and information programs and service. Based at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France, ARS is a primary source of French-language program materials for American cultural centers at U.S. embassies throughout Francophone Africa. The grant to Berklee is in keeping with agency goals to expand and strengthen people-to-people relationships and promote a civil society.
Berklee will field a group of 10 to 12 musicians led by Pérez, a renowned pianist and jazz composer, and recently appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace. BGJI’s managing director, Marco Pignataro, a saxophonist, will also be part of the group. In addition to their public performances, the Berklee musicians will conduct workshops with African children and mixed groups of traditional and contemporary musicians.
The BGJI performance program is designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. It provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students can explore their creativity at high levels, use the power of music to better society, and connect musical thinking with the natural environment. Institute students receive mentoring and performance opportunities with jazz masters. In addition to appearances at music festivals throughout the world, they teach music to children in Boston and other cities during their trips.