
Lee Berk Tribute Concert Honors Legacy of Music Education Pioneer and Former Berklee President The concert, 25 Tributes: Celebrating Lee Eliot Berk, will recognize Berks enduring impact on the institution with performances from students, faculty, alumni, and guest artists.
By
Daniel Pesquera
February 8, 2024
Image by Phil Farnsworth
Berklee will present the Signature Series concert 25 Tributes: Celebrating Lee Eliot Berk, a one-night event that will honor the life, career, and legacy of Lee Eliot Berk, former president and one of the most influential leaders in the institution's history. The concert, which will take place Friday, April 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, is slated to feature contributions from students, alumni, current and former faculty, and special guest artists offering 25 different tributes to Berk in the form of speeches, stories, and live performances.
In addition to memorializing Berk, the tribute concert will offer a chance for the Berklee community to commemorate the tremendous impact that the Berk family has had on countless individuals, whether through personal relationships or the numerous programs Berk helped to create and innovate during his storied tenure. The lineup of speakers and musicians represents many of Berklee's flagship initiatives and partnerships, which either started or expanded during the Berk presidency, including the college's world-renowned jazz curricula, the Berklee International Network (now known as Berklee Global Partners), the Boston Arts Academy, Berklee City Music, the Reverence Gospel Ensemble, and several key academic programs.
Lee Berk (center) with honorary doctorate recipients Amar G. Bose (left) and Oleta Adams (right) at the 1994 commencement ceremony.
Image courtesy of the Berklee Archives
Lee Berk dedicated his life to Berklee and played an immeasurable role in shaping the college into the internationally renowned and globally connected institution it is today, said Dr. David Bogen, interim president and provost. This concert will be a testament to Lees profound legacy, reflected in contributions representative of the many trailblazing programs and initiatives that helped define his tenure as president. We are honored to continue celebrating Lee's impact on Berklee, contemporary music education, and the arts, as well as his enduring belief in the life-changing power of music.
The concert will feature tributes and performances from select members of Berklee's jazz community, under the musical direction of Berklee instructor and jazz saxophonist, pianist, and composer Edmar Col n B.M. '15, M.M. '16, and will feature renowned saxophonist Bill Pierce B.M. '73, woodwind chair emeritus; pianist Kris Davis, associate program director of creative development for the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice; bassist John Lockwood; drummer and alternative jazz artist Tyson Jackson '19; and celebrated jazz trumpeter and professor Greg Hopkins. As a special tribute to Lee and his wife Susan, a big band of students and faculty will perform a composition by Mike Gibbs '63, whose concert at the Berklee Performance Center served as the venue for their first date.
Lee was a friend and mentor, had a keen sense of humor, and rightfully pursued a vision that placed Berklee at the center of global music education, said Dr. Ron Savage, vice president and executive director of academic affairs, who will be performing a stand-alone tribute on snare drum. Lee Berks advice to me as a new faculty member has long become my prime directive' in any youth development situation: Youll know you have it right as a teacher when your students become successful.' That quote portrays a sentiment that I hold dear to my heart. All of us who knew him miss Lee, and I look forward to the opportunity to celebrate his legacy!
The program will also include tributes that recognize the growth and innovation of various academic departments under Berk. Featured performances include Boston Conservatory at Berklee student Elaina Spiro playing film scores arranged by Associate Professor Tim Huling 98; original music from student singer-songwriter Kieran Rhodes; and compositions from Sheryl Bailey B.M. '88, assistant chair of guitar, and department faculty members Tim Miller, Rick Peckham, and Dave Fiuczynski, acknowledging the department's important role in Berklee's history.
Lee and Susan Berk (center) with Rimon School founder Yehuda Eder 85 (far right) celebrate the signing of official partnership agreement between Berklee and the Rimon School.
Image courtesy of the Berklee Archives
Following this tribute, saxophonist and composer Lihi Haruvi '15 and pianist Tom Oren '19, 2018 winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, will perform a duet. The two are graduates of the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat Hasharon, an institution cofounded by seminal Israeli musician Yehuda Eder B.M. '85. During his time as president, Berk established a foundation for a long-standing partnership between the school and Berklee. Alumni from the Boston Arts Academy will then take the stage, led by academy graduate Gregory Groover B.M. '15, M.M. '17, Berklees assistant chair of ensemble, and featuring Tyrone Sutton, the academy's interim head of school.
The concert will also celebrate the expansion of the global Berklee network, beginning with a tribute from Berklee City Music, a program which started under Berk and now reaches 54,000 students throughout North America every year. Under the direction of singer-songwriter Nichelle Mungo B.M. '97, assistant professor of voice, this tribute will feature performances from City Music alumni, including guitarist Tyrone Chase B.M. '95, ensemble interim chair; percuss
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/04/2026
New Charging, Connectivity, and Mounting Solutions Now Available
LAS VEGAS, APRIL 8, 2026 Pliant Technologies will highlight a range of new accessories at th...
09/04/2026
As live production continues its shift to IP, the challenge is no longer adoption it's reliability. At NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2033), Media Links will demon...
09/04/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, launches its new AI-powered add-on for its StudioPro p...
09/04/2026
The Hive Group has published a new white paper, No Safe Harbor: Why the FCC's Upper C-Band Auction Demands Early Action from Broadcasters ahead of NAB Sho...
09/04/2026
Saranyu Technologies today announced the renewal of its Optimizer VoD subscription with VisualOn. The announcement coincides with NAB Show 2026, taking place Ap...
09/04/2026
New technique for synthesizing branched molecules could accelerate the development of future medicines Scripps Research chemists solve a longstanding problem in...
08/04/2026
The deadline to enter the 18th Annual SVG College Sports Media Awards in association with NACDA is rapidly approaching! Submit your entries to this year's c...
08/04/2026
The Pittsburgh product helps lead more than 100 annual ESPN broadcasts as part o...
08/04/2026
Dynamic ad insertion, AI-based technologies, programmatic advertising are some o...
08/04/2026
Seven Fellows Selected for Second Year of Residency in Honor of Social Justice L...
08/04/2026
On March 7, Bad Bunny made history with his first-ever performance in Asia, taki...
08/04/2026
El 7 de marzo, Bad Bunny hizo historia con su primera presentaci n en Asia, subi...
08/04/2026
New channel strip plug-in revealed
The latest plug-in to be added to the Fuse Audio Labs line-up emulates a selection of vintage hardware units, combining c...
08/04/2026
Guitar & bass multi-effects software overhauled
Blue Cat Audio's flagship guitar and bass multi-effects software has recently received a significant upd...
08/04/2026
PanNoir mixer integration, Dolby Atmos Renderer & more
Merging Technologies have just launched Pyramix 16, the latest major update to their renowned DAW sof...
08/04/2026
Applicable Products Part number Description
QUARTZ-22-LTE (EU) Dual Port Dual SIM LTE Router (EU)
QUARTZ-COMPACT-11-LTE (EU) Single Port Compact LTE ...
08/04/2026
The September 19, 2025 YEP Newsletter highlights a group visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where participants explored exhibits showcasing the art...
08/04/2026
The L3Harris HBTSS satellite is proven on orbit, successfully demonstrating trac...
08/04/2026
Image Credit: NASA. Artist rendering of a space communications satellite in orbit, representative of the resilient, multiband infrastructure supporting mission ...
08/04/2026
Latest evaluation validates image quality, Inertial Navigation System performance and long-range tracking in operational flight conditions....
08/04/2026
New Gracenote study finds behavioral change well underway, but trust in AI-gener...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Integration eliminates ingest bottlenecks by ensuring content is immediately usable across cloud and hybrid editorial workflows. See it at NAB 2026.
Nevada Cit...
08/04/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the commercial availability of Dalia, its media-aware, agentic AI...
08/04/2026
Leading video software provider Synamedia today announced Senza Ignite, a cloud-based platform that transforms existing connected devices through a single firmw...
08/04/2026
Modernised architecture increases operational control and agility, while reducing cost and simplifying nationwide media transport across affiliates and news bur...
08/04/2026
Company to Feature DMX Dual Relay, High-Density 48-Channel Relay Panels, and New Private Label Power Program
LynTec, a leading manufacturer of innovative ele...
08/04/2026
Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE), a European media technology and services partner, today announces a technology partnership with BCNEXXT, a Netherlands-based c...
08/04/2026
Encompass Digital Media today announced the expansion of its Master Control Room (MCR) facility in Riga, Latvia, establishing it as one of the most advanced and...
08/04/2026
Leading video solutions provider Synamedia is back at The 2026 NAB Show with innovations that connect tomorrows audiences today. On display will be a range of t...
08/04/2026
COW Jobs: Director Needed for WWII Indie Docudrama
Brie Clayton April 8, 2026
0 Comments
Director Needed for WWII Indie Docudrama
March 17, 2026COW ...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/04/2026
Marshall Electronics introduces its latest POV camera with the new CV376 Compact NDI |HX3 HDMI POV Camera at NAB 2026 (Booth C8339). Designed for versatile 4K c...