
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Mischa Salkind-Pearl as Chair of Composition, Contemporary Music, and Core Studies An accomplished composer and educator, Salkind-Pearl brings 12 years of faculty experience to his new role as chair.
By
Tori Donahue
May 5, 2023
Boston Conservatory at Berklee has named Mischa Salkind-Pearl (M.M. 10, composition) as the chair of composition, contemporary music, and core studies starting on June 1. In this role, Salkind-Pearl will oversee artistic programming and curriculum for the Music Division's composition and contemporary classical music performance graduate programs, in addition to all core courses in music theory and music history.
Salkind-Pearl joined the Conservatory in 2010, teaching and creating over ten courses, including music theory, composition, and the Music and English Intensive Program for ESL (English as a second language) learners. In August 2022, he took on the role of interim chair of composition, contemporary music, and core studies, successfully launching a new sequence of required music history courses and a new course for first-year students, Music in Context. He also designed and carried out two successful guest artist residencies with Splinter Reeds and The Rhythm Method, both of whom performed concerts of their own repertoire at the Conservatory in addition to collaborating with composers and contemporary performance majors. In 2021, Salkind-Pearl became director of the High School Composition Intensive (HSCI), a Boston Conservatory summer program that annually welcomes 60 teen composers to campus for two weeks. He is an alumnus of the Conservatory, where he received his master's degree in music composition in 2010.
Mischa has been an invaluable member of the Boston Conservatory faculty for almost 13 years, says Michael Shinn, Boston Conservatory at Berklee dean of music. He is beloved throughout the community for his collaborative leadership, care for colleagues and students alike, innovative thought leadership, and excellence as both a teacher and composer. His combination of professional and academic experience uniquely positions him as a key leader who will guide the music department forward.
Salkind-Pearls music has been performed by ensembles around the U.S., Japan, Germany, and Italy. Boston Classical Review named his opera Troubled Water (with Guerilla Opera) the Best Premiere of 2015. His current projects include a consortium commission for a string quartet that integrates traditional techniques of American weaving, a collaboration with fiction writer Franny Zhang, and a commission for a concert-length work for the Knoxville-based duo Two Way Street.
Salkind-Pearl has composed for various acclaimed artists, including ensemble mise-en, Philipp St udlin, Tony Arnold, Lilit Hartunian, Transient Canvas, Diagenesis Duo, and Callithumpian Consort. In 2018, he composed, performed in, and recorded music for the 2018 documentary Art in Smog by filmmaker Lydia Chen. His work A Poppy of Erasure was included in the exhibition Intersections: Masters of Line and Space at the Akron Art Museum in 2016.
Salkind-Pearl founded and served as artistic director of Bostons Equilibrium, an ensemble that presented concerts highlighting the music of Bostons diverse contemporary music community. His music can be heard on Ludovico Ensembles portrait CD of his work, I Might Be Wrong, Transient Canvas's Wired, and Chen Li Musics CD, Pluralities. He is composer in residence for the Ludovico Ensemble, and was the 2020-2021 composer in residence at Concord Academy in Massachusetts. He received his bachelor's degree from Skidmore College and a certificate in American Contemporary Music from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. More information is available on his website.
Most Popular
Image generated with AI assistance, using the prompt: 3D rendering of jazz instruments transforming into computer circuitry.
What Does New AI Technology Mean for Artists? Songwriting faculty member Ben Camp talks ChatGPT and GPT-4, confronting the creative potential and creeping dread of artificial intelligence.
Latest
Longhai Zheng, who won first prize at the 2023 Songs for Social Change Contest, performs his song Good Boy at the Red Room at Cafe 939.
Image by Omari Spears
Songwriting Contest Celebrates Student Voices for Social Justice Meet Berklee's 2023 Songs for Social Change Contest winners: Longhai Zheng, Varsha Krishnamoorthy, and Lester Wong.
Laura Escud , a pioneer of the style she dubs future classical, is a keynote presenter at 2023 Connect: EDI Summit.
Image courtesy of the artist
Berklee Hosts Electronic Music Influencers for Connect 2023: EDI Summit The second annual summit will explore the most advanced techniques and tools electronic digital instrument (EDI) artists are using on stage and in the studio.
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Mischa Salkind-Pearl as Chair of Composition, Contemporary Music, and Core Studies An accomplished composer and educator, Salkind-Pearl brings 12 years of faculty experience to his new role as chair.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
More from Berklee
09/05/2025
Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the ...
08/05/2025
Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...
02/05/2025
Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...
02/05/2025
Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...
30/04/2025
Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...
30/04/2025
Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...
25/04/2025
Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...
24/04/2025
Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...
24/04/2025
Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...
23/04/2025
Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...
19/04/2025
Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...
18/04/2025
Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition.
By
Maddie...
18/04/2025
Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...
17/04/2025
In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...
17/04/2025
Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...
16/04/2025
Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...
12/04/2025
Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...
11/04/2025
Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...
05/04/2025
Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...
04/04/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...
03/04/2025
Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...
03/04/2025
Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...
03/04/2025
Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...
02/04/2025
Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...
28/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...
28/03/2025
Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee.
By
Colet...
28/03/2025
Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA.
By
Colette Greenstein
...
26/03/2025
New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...
22/03/2025
Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...
21/03/2025
Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...
21/03/2025
PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...
21/03/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...
20/03/2025
Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...
19/03/2025
Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...
19/03/2025
Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...
17/03/2025
BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...
15/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...
14/03/2025
Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
11/03/2025
New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...
11/03/2025
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...
10/03/2025
Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...
06/03/2025
Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...
06/03/2025
Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...
03/03/2025
The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world.
By
Sarah Godch...
03/03/2025
Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen.
March 3, 2025
Alexis Scheer
Photo by Gabriel...
27/02/2025
Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...