
Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellows Bridge Worlds Through Music The fellowship provides opportunities to musicians from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia regions to grow as artists and bring their culture into the larger Berklee community.
By
Daniel Pesquera
September 20, 2024
Berklee Abu Dhabi Center
Berj Fazlian first heard about the then-nascent Berklee Abu Dhabi Center at the Dubai Culture Expo in 2021, and thought that the offerings were like nothing else he had seen.
Now a third-semester performance major at Berklee College of Music, Fazlian credits a scholarship from the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship Fund, which allowed him to begin his studies in fall 2023, with transforming his life and musical journey for the better.
I'm in Boston right now, and I am still in denial that I got accepted for this scholarship, said Fazlian. Without the help of Berklee Abu Dhabi, it wouldn't have happened and I wouldn't be here. I'm very grateful for this opportunity.
Launched in March of 2023 by Abu Dhabis Department of Culture and Tourism, the fellowship fund offers scholarships to emerging artists from the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region, providing students with access to Berklee's state-of-the-art academic programs and creative spaces around the globe. In addition to Berklee Abu Dhabi and Berklee College of Music, prospective fellows can apply to study at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, and Berklee Online.
I've been learning so much, and I imagine what I can give back to people in the Middle East. I'm so happy to share what I've experienced.
- Berj Fazlian
To date, the fund has received over 700 applications, with scholarships being awarded to 13 students representing eight countries.
For insight into how the fellowship fund has opened possibilities for these artists, we spoke with Fazlian and fellow scholars Nejma Alkoor and Ahed Alameri about their musical and cultural backgrounds, experience with the program, and future aspirations.
Nejma Alkoor, Third-Semester Professional Music Major Growing up in a family of musicians and educators, Nejma Alkoor, a native of Abu Dhabi, had her mind set on Berklee early on. Alkoor began singing and playing piano at six years old, and soon began competing in singing contests including two appearances on The Voice Kids. In 2021, her mother, an oud player and professor, connected her with Mayssa Karaa, artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi, to tour the center and learn more about the academic offerings. Alkoor was immediately struck by the rigor and quality of the coursework and decided to enroll in the Performance Artistry and Learning program (PEARL) as a grade 11 student. Despite juggling the demands of her secondary school and Berklee Abu Dhabi coursework, Alkoor rose to the challenge, becoming the youngest person to earn the PEARL certificate. It was more than I thought, in a good way, said Alkoor. Honestly, I came out of [Berklee Abu Dhabi] knowing so much already and I hadn't even gone [yet] to university.
Nejma Alkoor credits Berklee Abu Dhabi with helping deepen her skills before attending college.
Soon after, Gael Hedding, director of the Berklee Abu Dhabi Center, suggested that Alkoor apply to the fellowship for the chance to study at Berklee's campus in Boston. Alkoor noted the motivation and support from the Abu Dhabi team as a big reason why she applied, despite apprehension about leaving home. I've been in some competitions . . . and after you feel drained, overwhelmed. . . . But when I entered Berklee Abu Dhabi, I felt the support and love, and I was able to do more concerts with my name in the set list. When I saw people being impacted by what I'm singing and getting emotional, it kept pushing me to do what I'm doing, even when it's difficult.
Now in her third semester, Alkoor has found a renewed sense of confidence and purpose in her artistry, citing the musical and cultural diversity at the Boston campus as a major influence on her development. Her performance in the Signature Series concert celebrating the Middle Eastern Music Festival was particularly special, not only because she took the stage at the Berklee Performance Center as a first-semester student, but because she was able to honor her culture through that performance.
I have friends that have been in a position where they don't know if they should move abroad or if they should continue following their passion. I always say, you should go for it, even if you're at a low point in your life or think you're not good enough, because one person can change so much in this world.
Ahed Alameri, Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive AlumnaUnlike many other students pursuing careers in music, Ahed Alameri of the UAE was not born into a family of artists. Instead, she found her way to the piano on her own, magnetically drawn to the instrument at a young age. Alameri's mother, while not having a background in music, recognized her daughter's deep love and natural ability for performance. Alameri would come to earn recognition for her talent from various secondary schools throughout the Emirates, eventually participating in international competitions.
The Fellowship Fund allowed Ahed Alameri to attend the renowned Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive at Berklee.
Image courtesy of the artist
Along the way, Alameri fell in love with classical music and jazz, genres she says have become an integral part of my identity, and continue to inspire and captivate me every single day. Her search to expand her artistic palette would lead her to discover the fellowship fund, through which she applied for Berklee's Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive program. I wanted to experien
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 ...
15/04/2026
Image courtesy of MD Helicopters...
15/04/2026
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, L3Harris VP Mark Farley, and state and local l...
15/04/2026
U.S. Space Forces Ground-Based Optical Sensor System upgrade at the Maui Space S...
15/04/2026
NBCU-Versant notches 13.1% of TV viewing in February, its best since August 2024...
15/04/2026
New data reveals older Kiwis are financially resilient, loyal to local products,...
15/04/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, announces the market launch of the ACCE...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Evergent introduces its Agentic Revenue Orchestration Platform, transforming how subscription businesses across direct-to-consumer streaming, pay-TV, telecommun...
15/04/2026
Harmonic's XOS Media Processor Delivers Exceptional Video Quality to More than Half of U.S. Public Media Viewership
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announce...
15/04/2026
LONGMONT, COLORADO, APRIL 15, 2026 DPA Microphones N Series Digital Wireless System users in North America can now take full advantage of the system's exc...
15/04/2026
Cobalt Iron, a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced the launch of Compass Tape Gateway (CTG), a transformative enhancemen...
15/04/2026
Disguise to Showcase Cutting-Edge Experience Tech for Sports, Broadcast and More...
15/04/2026
Arooj Aftab Makes the Music She Wants to Hear The singular artist explores the juxtaposition of grief and joy, dark and light, in her distinctive sound.
Apri...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Interra Systems, a provider of end-to-end quality assurance solutions for the digital media industry, is proud to announce its central role in the digital trans...
15/04/2026
VO Integrates Client-Side and Server-Side Ad Technologies with its Secure Video Player and Segmentation Tools, Leveraging Broadpeak's SSAI and BPK SmartLib ...
15/04/2026
TMT Insights, a leader in professional services and software development for the media and entertainment (M&E) industry, today announced the launch of TMT AI at...
15/04/2026
Encompass Digital Media, a global leader in managed broadcast and cloud-based media services, today announced an expanded partnership with Oracle Cloud Infrastr...
15/04/2026
Middleman Software, a leading provider of signaling and synchronization solutions for broadcast and streaming workflows, today announced it will unveil PhaseLoc...
15/04/2026
Deity Microphones today announced the PR-4, a compact six-track field recorder featuring four inputs, 32-bit float recording, advanced routing, and a workflow-f...
15/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces Fairlight Live
Brie Clayton April 15, 2026
0 Comments
Powerful software-based live audio mixer with support for SMPTE-2110...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/04/2026
Strategic Alignment With the Riedel Group for Innovation and Growth
Thomas Riedel, founder and owner of Riedel Communications and the Riedel Group, has acqui...
15/04/2026
SDVI, the leading platform provider for cloud-native media supply chains, today announced that the company's Rally platform has been deployed by Iyuno Media...
15/04/2026
Frequency, the engine behind many of the worlds leading streaming television channels, has become the platform of choice for leading U.S. broadcasters bringing ...
15/04/2026
New Service Simplifies Integration of AI Applications with Exceptional Reliability and Security
SAN JOSE, Calif. April 14, 2026 Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) t...
15/04/2026
During the 2025 off-season, VIDI completed a major upgrade of the broadcast infrastructure across all 36 stadiums in Germany's 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. The p...
15/04/2026
Clear-Com announced significant updates to its award-winning Arcadia Central Station as well as enhancements to the Eclipse HX Digital Matrix System now runn...
15/04/2026
Shotoku Introduces the World to Aura P2 PTZ Prompter Panner at NAB SHOW 2026
Brie Clayton April 15, 2026
0 Comments
New system removes PTZ pan restric...
15/04/2026
LiveU Announces Expanded Collaboration with Sony at NAB Show, Adding Direct File...
15/04/2026
This 24-Hour Performance Art Piece Needs Your Participation Keefer Glenshaws latest project is about collaborating with the Berklee community and beyond.
Apr...
15/04/2026
Back to All News
The Countdown Has Begun! Netflix Drops Trailer and Release Dat...
15/04/2026
Back to All News
Celebrating BEEF' Season 2 and Storytelling That Connects Cultures
From left to right: Matthew Kim, Jinny Howe, Lee Sung Jin, Seoyeon Ja...
15/04/2026
Back to All News
Made in New Jersey: Dan Levy's New Comedy Big Mistakes...
15/04/2026
LinkedIn's 2026 Grad's Guide shows where opportunity is growing Published on Apr 15, 2026 Categories: Company News, Data and insights
LinkedIn Corp...
15/04/2026
With new broadcast standards evolving all over the world and OTT streaming striving for the pole position in media consumption, both next-gen video and audio co...
15/04/2026
Harmonic's XOS Media Processor Delivers Exceptional Video Quality to More th...