First Berklee Master s Degree Students to Graduate

Sophie Maricq

July 10, 2013

Seventy-four students from 27 countries will be the first to graduate from Berklees inaugural master's programs, launched in September 2012 at its new international campus in Valencia, Spain. The graduates will be awarded degrees in one of three programs: contemporary performance; global entertainment and music business; and scoring for film, television, and video games.

The graduation takes place on Monday, July 15, at Berklee's Valencia campus, located in the iconic building of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, Spain. The ceremony will be attended by family and friends of the graduates, Berklee faculty and staff, Berklee president Roger H. Brown, and senior vice president for academic affairs and provost Larry Simpson.

Spanish composer Jos Mar a Cano will be the keynote speaker. Cano is the founding member of the highly successful Spanish pop band Mecano and is known for his national and international hits, including an opera recorded by Pl cido Domingo.

As part of the graduation celebrations, there will be a concert on Sunday, July 14, featuring performances by many of the graduating students.

Established as a hub for those wishing to pursue an international career in the music industry, Berklee in Valencia provides state-of-the-art facilities, excellent faculty, and invaluable experience for musicians to further develop their skills and achieve their potential. Highlights of the program included a two-week trip to Los Angeles, where students studying scoring for television, film, and video games record their original work at Warner Bros. studios; a trip to France to attend MIDEM, the leading music business industry event; participation in Rethink Music for students studying global entertainment and music business; and for the contemporary performance students, appearances in several professional concerts, galas, and international festivals around the country.

We are very proud of our graduating class. Each of them has spent an intensive year honing and developing their musical and entrepreneurial skills in preparation to meet the challenges and succeed in today's international music industry, explained Guillermo Cisneros, Berklees vice president for global initiatives and Berklee in Valencias executive director.

The internships that some have attained with leading international companies in the music industry in Europe, the U.S., and China are testimony to their talent and the level that they have achieved. We wish them every success and look forward to following them on the global stage," he said.

President Brown called the graduation "a momentous occasion, not only for the graduating inaugural master's class, but for all the faculty, staff, and alumni at Berklee who have worked hard over the last four years; from the inception, building, and creation of our first international campus, through developing and teaching the programs and curriculum, to inspiring and motivating our first ever master's students. This marks another key milestone in the history of Berklee."

A new class of graduate students begins the program in September, when a fourth master's degree, in music technology innovation led by Stephen Webber, launches.

LINK:	http://www.berklee.edu/news/first-berklee-master%E2%80%99s-degree-stud...
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