Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni

30/09/2023

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni Listen to the first episode featuring Captain Marvel composer Pinar Toprak B.M. '00.

By

Daniel Pesquera

September 29, 2023

Pinar Toprak B.M. '00

Image by Christina Gandolfo

Berklee's Alumni Affairs team is excited to announce Pass the Mic, a new monthly podcast series featuring intimate conversations with alumni from all different sides of the music industry. The series is available on all podcast streaming platforms.

The inaugural episode features Pinar Toprak B.M. '00, a celebrated film, TV, and video game composer with credits that include Captain Marvel, the Fortnite video game series, and, most recently, the NFL. The Emmy-nominated composer has won three International Film Music Critics Association Awards, for The Lightkeepers (2009), The Wind Gods (2013), and The Tides of Fate (2018). Berklee presented her with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2022.

Every time I start a new film, I feel like the last film I did is the last thing, and I'll never be able to write again, Toprak said when discussing her creative process on the episode. The first thing I do is I try to get as much information on the film as possible, then I go through my little anxiety, then I try to detach myself from it. Then I start with the theme and work from there.

Listen to the first episode:

Created and hosted by Alumni Affairs staff members Padriac Farma, associate director of digital engagement, and Jaquel Eley, assistant director of digital engagement, the Pass the Mic series aims to highlight a wide range of industry experts from Berklee's professional community by giving alumni an opportunity to share their unique insights and extensive knowledge in a comfortable, conversational setting.

Pass the Mic is the culmination of many discussions with members of the Berklee community, from all over the music industry, said Farma. With this podcast series, we will have an opportunity to learn from alumni on the cutting edge of music business, education, therapy, performance, and even get an insight into those that use their Berklee education in other career areas. We are excited to bring alumni together so they can continue to learn and grow as a community.

In October, the podcast will feature Tommy Torres B.M. '93, a producer, songwriter, and Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Berklee Alumni Achievement Award winner.

To recommend a Berklee alum for the podcast, reach out to Alumni Affairs at alumniaffairs@berklee.edu.

Related Categories

News

Most Popular

Elena Pinderhughes

Image courtesy of the artist

Berklee Announces 2023 Fall Signature Series Lineup This years series will feature Elena Pinderhughes, Braxton Cook, Pavel N ez, and the Pletenitsa Balkan Choir, as well as a career-spanning tribute to Madonna.

Latest

Miguel Nun ez

Image courtesy of the artist

Berklee Signature Series Celebrates Cuban Troubador Pablo Milan s The concert will feature musicians Miguel N ez and Pavel N ez performing with a Berklee ensemble.

Image generated with AI, using the prompt, digital art of an algorithm flowing out of the laptop screens of every student sitting in a college classroom.

How Generative AI Is Changing College Classes Four Berklee professors explore the educational opportunities and concerns raised by new AI tools like OpenAIs ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot.

Image courtesy of Juliette Ojeda

Conservatory Student Wows Gwen Stefani on The Voice Premiere Juliette Ojedas bilingual rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You landed her on Team Gwen.

Read All

Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/new-podcast-i-pass-the-mic-i-...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

12/09/2025

The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great)

The Best Fictional Bands (and the Artists Who Make Them Great) With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting theaters and songs from KPop Demon Hunters ruling...

10/09/2025

Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble Presents Autumn Walk

Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble Presents Autumn Walk The free concert, part of Brass Festival Weekend, is the first Center Stage performance of the fall sem...

10/09/2025

Berklee Announces BEATL, New Innovation Hub for Music Technology

Berklee Announces BEATL, New Innovation Hub for Music Technology Mark Ethier, iZotope cofounder whose software is used by millions of musicians, joins as exec...

05/09/2025

Alum Esin Aydngz Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday

Alum Esin Ayd ng z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...

05/09/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Five-Year Partnership with The Verdon Fosse Legacy

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Five-Year Partnership with The Verdon F...

05/09/2025

Alum Esin Aydingz Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday

Alum Esin Ayding z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...

04/09/2025

Watch the Benn Family Band Perform I Wont Give Up on Americas Got Talent

Watch the Benn Family Band Perform I Wont Give Up on Americas Got Talent Assistant Professor Loren Benn and her family gave an emotional live performance of t...

04/09/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Welcomes 15 New Faculty Members

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Welcomes 15 New Faculty Members The new hires bring expertise in a wide range of subjects, including Indian classical dance, el...

28/08/2025

Dr. Rhoda Bernard Releases Groundbreaking Debut Book on Accessible Arts Education

Dr. Rhoda Bernard Releases Groundbreaking Debut Book on Accessible Arts Educatio...

28/08/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Center Stage Performances for 2025-2026 Season

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Center Stage Performances for 2025-2026...

27/08/2025

Lara Pellegrinelli Named Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Visiting Scholar

Lara Pellegrinelli Named Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Visiting S...

25/08/2025

The Berklee-Spelman Exchange Program Enters Year Three

The Berklee-Spelman Exchange Program Enters Year Three The initiative celebrates the contributions of African American women to jazz and contemporary music. ...

23/08/2025

$2.2 Million Donation Fuels Next Phase of Berklee Bridge

$2.2 Million Donation Fuels Next Phase of Berklee Bridge The anonymous gift will amplify the impact of the student success initiative built to support student...

22/08/2025

This Berklee Program Turns Class Projects into Career Breakthroughs

This Berklee Program Turns Class Projects into Career Breakthroughs Experiential Design Lab students take on creative briefs from Red Bull, Disney, and more, ...

19/08/2025

Where Is 2025s Song of the Summer?

Where Is 2025s Song of the Summer? Professor Joe Bennett comments on why this year doesnt have a clear song of the summer. By Tara Bellucci August 19, 202...

18/08/2025

Berklee Announces Fall 2025 Signature Series

Berklee Announces Fall 2025 Signature Series This year's concerts feature Sasha Berliner, Samora Pinderhughes, and Rakim, alongside tributes to Bob Dylan,...

18/08/2025

Dorico Music Software: Tips for Switching from Finale

Dorico Music Software: Tips for Switching from Finale Professor Lee Abe explains the music composition software and how it compares to the now-sunset Finale. ...

15/08/2025

Arlen Borrego Miranda Awarded 2025 Prodigy Scholarship by Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation

Arlen Borrego Miranda Awarded 2025 Prodigy Scholarship by Latin Grammy Cultural ...

14/08/2025

Graduate Spotlight: Sofija Zlatanova

Graduate Spotlight: Sofija Zlatanova The educator, who grew up in North Macedonia, shares how her Berklee journey went from viola performance to music educati...

12/08/2025

KPop Demon Hunters Is Coming to Theaters

KPop Demon Hunters Is Coming to Theaters Assistant Professor Claire Marie Lim discusses the Netflix film and K-pop trends ahead of the one-weekend-only theatr...

07/08/2025

Berklee City Music Students Receive Scholarships, Awards at Concert

Berklee City Music Students Receive Scholarships, Awards at Concert This year, 17 students received scholarships, housing awards, and aid to attend Berklee Co...

06/08/2025

Boston Conservatory Dancers Light Up Coldplay's Gillette Stadium Shows

Boston Conservatory Dancers Light Up Coldplay's Gillette Stadium Shows Fifteen commercial dance students and recent grads performed as planet operators ...

01/08/2025

Boston Conservatory Grads Costar with Sutton Foster and Kelli O'Hara for One Night Only

Boston Conservatory Grads Costar with Sutton Foster and Kelli O'Hara for One...

31/07/2025

Ozzy Osbourne Was Master of His Own Reality

Ozzy Osbourne Was Master of His Own Reality From being the founder of heavy metal to a foul-mouthed reality TV star, the Prince of Darkness built a legacy on ...

31/07/2025

Lucy Khadder Named 2025 Jimmy Lyons Scholarship Recipient

Lucy Khadder Named 2025 Jimmy Lyons Scholarship Recipient The valedictorian from the Oakland School for the Arts will perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival in...

31/07/2025

Berklee Songwriters Win 2025 John Lennon Awards

Berklee Songwriters Win 2025 John Lennon Awards Chloe Southern BM '22 and student Julia Kirkwood honored by the BMI Foundation for standout original songs...

26/07/2025

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association Celebrate First-Ever Concert at Brighton Music Hall

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association Celebrate First-Ever Concert at Br...

25/07/2025

That Great Gretsch Sound: The Iconic Gear that Made Music History

That Great Gretsch Sound: The Iconic Gear that Made Music History From the Beatles on Ed Sullivan to jazz drumming evolution, Gretsch has been there. Listen t...

25/07/2025

Berklee Partners with Playing for Legacy for 2025 Summer Program

Berklee Partners with Playing for Legacy for 2025 Summer Program Students from around the world gain real-world music industry experience through hands-on art...

24/07/2025

Allison Miller Named the 2025-2026 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholar in Jazz Studies

Allison Miller Named the 2025-2026 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholar in Jazz Studies The three-time Jazz Journalists Association Drummer of the Year nominee will ...

23/07/2025

The Velvet Sundown: The AI Band Controversy Explained

The Velvet Sundown: The AI Band Controversy Explained Berklee faculty explain what you need to know about the now-confirmed AI band with over 1 million stream...

18/07/2025

Berklee Singers Wow the Competition on Netflixs Building the Band

Berklee Singers Wow the Competition on Netflixs Building the Band Netflixs new music competition show features two Berklee artists looking to make their pop b...

17/07/2025

Berklee Wins CASE Award for Standout Digital Campaign

Berklee Wins CASE Award for Standout Digital Campaign The Alumni Affairs team's Variations Signature Series earned recognition for offering an authentic p...

17/07/2025

Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2025 Emmy Awards

Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2025 Emmy Awards Twenty-seven Berklee alumni received nominations across categories in sound mixing, sound editing, and compositi...

11/07/2025

Model/Actriz Performs Lead Single Cinderella on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Model/Actriz Performs Lead Single Cinderella on The Late Show with Stephen Colbe...

03/07/2025

Berklee's Gospel Performance Program Welcomes Jonathan Nelson as the Herb Alpert Visiting Artist

Berklee's Gospel Performance Program Welcomes Jonathan Nelson as the Herb Al...

02/07/2025

Boston Conservatory and the Sphinx Organization Join Forces to Make Classical Education Accessible

Boston Conservatory and the Sphinx Organization Join Forces to Make Classical Ed...

30/06/2025

Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics to Host 40th Anniversary Concert

Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics to Host 40th Anniversary Concert The celebration will be held on July 10 in Perugia, Italy. By Colette Greenstein June 30, 202...

27/06/2025

How Two Berklee Alumni Landed Songs in the Oscar-Winning Film Anora

How Two Berklee Alumni Landed Songs in the Oscar-Winning Film Anora Joseph Capalbo BM '12 and Lyusi Simon BM '16 share how their collaboration spanned...

26/06/2025

Berklee in Puerto Rico 30th Anniversary Celebration Culminates in Awarding $3.74 Million in Financial Aid

Berklee in Puerto Rico 30th Anniversary Celebration Culminates in Awarding $3.74...

25/06/2025

Study Reveals Stark Gender Gap in Jazz Education

Study Reveals Stark Gender Gap in Jazz Education A new report from the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and researcher Lara Pellegrinelli finds th...

25/06/2025

Jazz at the Fort Returns, Featuring Yoron Israel and High Standards

Jazz at the Fort Returns, Featuring Yoron Israel and High Standards The performance is part of Berklee's Summer in the City concert series. By Kelly Won...

19/06/2025

Chelsey Green Makes History as Recording Academy Board Chair

Chelsey Green Makes History as Recording Academy Board Chair The violinist, violist, vocalist, and Berklee professor is the first Black woman and youngest per...

18/06/2025

Bostons Dear Summer Mixtape Vol. 3 Features Berklee Artists, DJs, and Producers

Bostons Dear Summer Mixtape Vol. 3 Features Berklee Artists, DJs, and Producers Created by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainm...

13/06/2025

Berklee's Music Business/Management Department Recognized by the Music Biz Association

Berklee's Music Business/Management Department Recognized by the Music Biz A...

13/06/2025

On Chick Coreas Birthday, a Newly Uncovered Archival Release

On Chick Coreas Birthday, a Newly Uncovered Archival Release The Visitors, composed by Corea and performed by vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Kirill Gers...

11/06/2025

Boston Conservatory Heads to Tanglewood This Summer

Boston Conservatory Heads to Tanglewood This Summer Student dancers and musicians from Boston Conservatory at Berklee will debut a new work by choreographer K...

10/06/2025

Berklee Professor Regie Gibson Named First Poet Laureate of Massachusetts

Berklee Professor Regie Gibson Named First Poet Laureate of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey honored Gibson as the inaugural Poet Laureate for the state in...

10/06/2025

Summer Songwriting Programs: Boston or LA? Berklee Lets You Choose Your Coast

Summer Songwriting Programs: Boston or LA? Berklee Lets You Choose Your Coast Whether you head east or west, Berklee offers aspiring songwriters the chance to...

07/06/2025

Berklee Professor's Fulbright Project Addresses Suicide Loss Through Art

Berklee Professor's Fulbright Project Addresses Suicide Loss Through Art Ray Seol's cross-cultural production Another Season draws from personal grief...