Toward the end of day one of the“Art of Improvisation: Blues and Jazz” program offered at the Berklee Valencia program this summer, two young women started a discussion with Berklee’s Assistant Chair of Guitar Rick Peckham.
By
Jason Camelio
Jazz pianist Michel Camilo (front row, third from the left), representatives from Orange (telecommunications), and Berklee staff members pose with finalists for the 2012 Michel Camilo Scholarship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Sandra Camilo
Toward the end of day one of the“Art of Improvisation: Blues and Jazz” program offered at the Berklee Valencia program this summer, two young women started a discussion with Berklee’s Assistant Chair of Guitar Rick Peckham. Such dialogue is fairly common at Berklee-sponsored events, but becomes even more interesting when you know more about the talented musicians speaking with Peckham.
On
With the help of an excellent team of faculty members, Berklee’s Director of Scholarships Tod Oliviere (back row, far right) and trustee Luis Alvarez (not pictured) awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to talented young students at the 2012 Berklee in Puerto Rico program.
Pearly Lee
e was Sarah Messias, a young Brazilian blues vocalist and harp player. She won the 2012 Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship, which enabled her to attend the Art of Improvisation program at no cost. The other was Ipshita Roy, a blues vocalist from India. Both musicians have enjoyed success in their home countries. And these were just two of 50 students from 16 different countries who traveled great distances to Berklee’s new campus in Valencia to participate in the program. It never fails to amaze me that the lure of music—in this case, American music—has the power to draw diverse groups of people together.
From the left: Sarah Messias, Rick Peckham, and Ipshita Roy meet at the Art of Improvisation program in Valencia, Spain in July.
Jason Camilio
Professor of ensembles Dave Weigert (at the drums) conducts a master class during the July Groove School program in Valencia.
Jason Camilio
This article appeared in our alumni magazine, Berklee Today Fall 2012.
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