Donna McElroy

Professor Emeritus

Affiliated Departments

Voice

dmcelroy@berklee.edu

617-747-8439

For media inquiries, please contact Media Relations

Career Highlights

Retired from Berklee College of Music in 2021, with over 24 years of service
Arranger/background vocalist on gold and platinum releases, "Why Haven't I Heard From You?" by Reba McEntire; "We Shall Be Free" by Garth Brooks, "Addictive Love" by BeBe and CeCe Winans, and "House of Love" by Amy Grant
Missionary with International Christian Artists Reaching the Earth, Ghana
Television appearances include Arsenio Hall, The Tonight Show, and Grammy Awards

Awards

Professor Emeritus, Berklee College of Music
Dove Award for Songs from the Loft (Reunion)
1993 Best Actress Award for the Circle Players' performance of Sister Mary Regina (Nunsense)
Recipient of Grammy nomination for Bigger World (WB)

In Their Own Words

"Usually a person comes to Berklee as a voice student because they want a record deal…so that's perfect for me because I can speak from experience on that topic. They may want to be a professional singer and go out on the road, or do jingles and session work, and I've done all that."

"I realized that I have a special gift I bring to teaching, which is experience. Most people get out of school and begin to teach. They haven't done 23 years of hacking away at it."

"The students love me because I've gone through all those things and I still have the love to share with them. I'm not bitter, I'm not depressed, and I'm not crazy...well, I'm crazy, but...They love the fact that I can still have fun and that I love the music. The music comes first, and then I still have a lot of attention, space, and joy left to share with them. That's what they love. And that's a gift. I don't claim that; I just accept it, maintain it, and manage it because I know that it's a gift from God. I know it is."