Philip Lima Named Assistant Chair of Berklee's Voice Department

Berklee has named Philip Lima as assistant chair of the Voice Department. Lima is a baritone vocalist who has garnered critical acclaim for his performances on both concert and operatic stages. He is currently serving as interim chair of the department while chair Anne Peckham is on sabbatical.

"It's so great to be with my tribe of singers, and what remarkable singers—both faculty and students—they are. I appreciate the out-of-the-box decision-making of college leaders to let a central administrator move into academic leadership,” said Lima, who worked in Berklee’s Human Resources Department. “While similar moves have occurred previously, the path is not well worn. Thanks for taking a chance on me (yes, ABBA pun intended)."

“We are all very excited for Philip Lima in his newest role at Berklee,” said Ron Savage, dean of the Professional Performance Division. “A world class singer and person, his tremendous administrative expertise and deep understanding of the needs of developing vocalists make him the perfect complement for leading the college's largest private instruction area.”

Lima has sung leading operatic roles in Germany and for regional opera companies in the U.S. in repertoire ranging from traditional favorites by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi; to important works of 20th century masters such as Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, and Viktor Ullmann; to the comic masterworks of Gilbert and Sullivan. Of particular note have been his featured roles in the world premieres of operas by jazz greats Leslie Burrs, Nathan Davis, and Mary Watkins, and by award-winning composition professor Larry Bell.

He has also appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops and more than 60 orchestras, choral societies, and concert series across the U.S. and in Korea and Ukraine, performing popular choral works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Fauré, Handel, Mendelssohn, Orff, and Vaughan Williams, as well as works by Bernstein, Dave Brubeck, Mahler, Ravel, and Lee Hoiby.

Lima, a resident of Roxbury, Massachusetts, joined Berklee in 2006 and most recently served as assistant vice president of benefits, HR compliance, and enterprise risk management. In this role, Lima was the principal advisor for the design and delivery of Berklee’s employee benefits programs and the fulfillment of the college’s significant human resource–related compliance requirements.