Berklee Names Sean K. Skeete as Dean of Professional Performance Division

Berklee Names Sean K. Skeete as Dean of Professional Performance Division Skeete previously served as chair of the colleges Ensemble Department from 2018 to 2023.

By

Tori Donahue

December 7, 2023

Sean K. Skeete has been announced as the dean of Berklees Professional Performance Division.

Image by Kelly Davidson

Berklee has appointed Sean K. Skeete as the dean of the Professional Performance Division. He was the interim dean of the division previously and served as the chair of the colleges Ensemble Department from 2018 through 2023.

In his role as dean, Skeete will serve as a part of Berklee's Academic Affairs senior leadership. He will be responsible for the administration of the Performance Division, including all of its instrumental departments, as well as for leading programs and institutes such as the Global Jazz Institute, Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, the American Roots Music Program, and many others. He will also guide the creation and implementation of curriculum within the division, oversee faculty and staff hiring and development initiatives, and work to foster institutional and interdivisional collaborations.

It is an absolute honor to lead the Professional Performance Division at Berklee, said Skeete. Berklee has been an incredible place for me to develop my skills as a performer, professor, administrator, community leader, and now as a member of the Academic Affairs leadership team. I look forward to developing new ways to enhance our students educational experience, supporting faculty and chairs, and continuing to collaborate with leaders throughout our community.

A drummer and educator from Trinidad and Tobago, Skeete grew up in a musical family. His love for music began at the age of 3 while playing in his father's church. He found his calling and dedicated much of his youth to studying music intensely, with the hope of becoming a professional performer. Skeete attended high school in Boston, where he participated in the Berklee City Music program. Upon graduation, he was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee, where he continued to develop his musical style.

Skeete is an extremely versatile performer whose musicality is informed by his love for the music of the Caribbean, jazz, and R&B. He has been performing and teaching professionally for more than two decades, and he has worked with a range of artists and musicians including Take 6, En Vogue, LoCash, CeCe Winans, Marvin Winans, John Patitucci, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Blue Man Group, and others. He has also performed with world renowned orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.

With over two decades of educational experience at Berklee, Skeete has taught ensembles, private drum lessons, and drum set technique labs. His also teaches internationally, delivering music workshops and clinics for aspiring musicians around the world. Most recently, he embraced a new challenge as the Caribbean music consultant for Disneys Ariel, an animated series premiering in 2024.

Whether on stage, in the classroom, or as an administrative leader, Seans impact is immeasurable, said Ron Savage, vice president and executive director, Berklee College of Music. His career is marked by a dedication to pushing boundaries, supporting students, and investing in the power of music to connect and inspire.

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