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, Duke Ellington, and Coldplay.

By

Nick Balkin

August 18, 2025

Sasha Berliner performs at the Red Room at Cafe 939 on October 17.

Berklee has announced the lineup for its fall 2025 Signature Series, a slate of concerts showcasing world-class guest artists performing alongside Berklee's top student ensembles. This year's series spans jazz, folk, hip-hop, and pop, with events running from October through December at the Berklee Performance Center and the Red Room at Cafe 939. Each concert offers a unique collaboration between acclaimed musicians and the next generation of artists, reflecting Berklee's tradition of pairing students with innovative voices in contemporary music.

Here's a closer look at this year's concerts:

Sasha Berliner Berklee EnsembleFriday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. | Red Room at Cafe 939

Composer, producer, and bandleader Sasha Berliner-winner of the 2020 DownBeat Critics Poll in the Rising Star-Vibraphone category, and the first woman and youngest artist to receive the honor-leads a Berklee student ensemble in a program of her chosen repertoire. Selected and prepared by Matthew Stevens, associate professor of guitar, the ensemble will bring its own voice to Berliner's distinctive style. Berliner has appeared at the Newport, Montreal, and Monterey jazz festivals, and has collaborated with artists such as Tyshawn Sorey, Christian McBride, and C cile McLorin Salvant. Buy tickets.

Watching the River Flow: A Roots Salute to Bob DylanWednesday, November 5, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

In this genre-spanning concert, students from across Berklee honor Bob Dylan through bold, original arrangements of his songs and the music that inspired him. From stripped-down acoustic and bluegrass to electrifying rock 'n' roll, jazz, gospel, and classical interpretations, the program showcases Dylan's influence across styles and generations. Guest artists include Tim O'Brien, Lucy Kaplansky, Tony Trischka, Annie Raines, Matt Rollings, Bruce Molsky, Farayi Malek, Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, Larry Watson, the Berklee Faculty Big Band led by Peter Kenagy, Tom Piazza, and more. Buy tickets.

Celebration of Hip-Hop and Hall of Fame Induction of RakimThursday, November 13, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

Berklee's Africana Studies Division will induct legendary MC Rakim into the Berklee Hip-Hop Hall of Fame, joining past honorees such as Roxanne Shant , Kid 'n Play, Edo G., the Floor Lords, and Prince Charles Alexander. Widely regarded as one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all time, Rakim revolutionized rhyme delivery with Eric B. on their groundbreaking 1986 single Eric B. Is President, setting a new standard for MCs. The celebration will feature Rakim performing his greatest hits alongside Berklee students and local hip-hop artists in a high-energy tribute to the genre's artistry and history. Buy tickets.

Samora Pinderhughes Berklee EnsembleWednesday, November 19, 7:00 p.m. | Red Room at Cafe 939

Composer, pianist, vocalist, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes leads a Berklee student ensemble in a program of his chosen repertoire, with students selected and prepared by Matthew Stevens, associate professor of guitar. Known for music that blends emotional depth with social commentary, Pinderhughes has collaborated with artists including Herbie Hancock, Common, Robert Glasper, and Lalah Hathaway, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Kennedy Center. Buy tickets.

Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite and GenNext All-Stars' Noel Featuring Jaleel ShawTuesday, November 25, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

Directed and produced by Tia Fuller, Berklee's Diamond Cut Big Band performs Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazz adaptation of The Nutcracker Suite, reimagining Tchaikovsky's holiday classic with swing and sophistication. The program continues with alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw BM '00 performing selections from the GenNext All-Stars' holiday album Noel. Dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee join the celebration, adding movement and visual flair to this festive season highlight. Buy tickets.

Singers Showcase: A Sky Full of Stars-The Songs of ColdplayThursday-Friday, December 4-5, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

More than 100 vocalists, instrumentalists, arrangers, dancers, choreographers, and visual designers come together for a dazzling reimagining of Coldplay's iconic catalog. The interdisciplinary production features original choreography by Boston Conservatory faculty member Anthony Burrell and immersive visual design by percussionist and digital media artist Maria Finkelmeier, transforming the theater into a multisensory, technicolor soundscape. From soaring anthems such as Viva La Vida and A Sky Full of Stars to other defining songs from across the band's career, the performance pays tribute to one of the most influential and enduring acts of the 21st century. Buy tickets.

Boston Conservatory Dancers Shine with Coldplays Gillette Stadium Shows

Commercial dance students and recent grads performed as planet operators during the band's sold-out Music of the Spheres tour. Ticket InformationTickets for Signature Series events are on sale now and can be purchased online or in person at the Berklee Box Office, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. The box office will be closed for summer recess through Tuesday, August 19, and will reopen on Wednesday, August 20. Summer hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., two hours prior to ticketed Berklee Performance Center

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/berklee-announces-fall-2025-s...
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