Global Groove

After returning from my final trip of 2009, I have taken some time to reflect on the numerous successes of Berklee's international programs over the past year. It is appropriate to send a heartfelt thanks to the many alumni, students, faculty, and partners who have helped to make this past year truly exceptional.

Berklee in Dublin. Thanks to Nigel Flegg, Ronan Guilfoyle, Newpark Music Centre, and the Dublin Institute of Technology for hosting our newest Berklee on the Road event. Special thanks to Bill Whelan for his inspiration, advice, and support of this event.

Africa Scholars Program Nairobi. Eric Wainaina '03 and Brookhouse International Schools, Nairobi, hosted the 2009 Africa Scholars Program clinics, concerts, and auditions. Special thanks go to Michael E. Ranneberger, the U.S. ambassador to Kenya, for hosting an alumni reception at his home during the visit.

Berklee in St. Petersburg. Sergey Kremensky, Paul Koster, and One-Go Productions in St. Petersburg, Russia, hosted the St. Petersburg Summertime Music Festival at the Peter and Paul Fortress. Thanks also go to the festival's featured group, Mass Ave Project with alumni Iakov Kremensky '07, Nikolay Moiseenko '07, Evgeny Lebedev '08, DJ Ginyard '09, Jeff Villanueva '07, and the Oleg Ostapchuk Quartet.

U.S.-Finnish relations 90th anniversary. Thanks go to Marta Schmidt, Neff Irizarry II '96 from the Pop & Jazz Conservatory in Helsinki; Nicole Conn, Heidi Day, and the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki; Jack O'Donnell, Gregg Stein '00, and Grover Knight from Numark, Alesis, and Akai Professional; ION MixMeister; Assistant Vice President for International Programs Greg Badolato, Jesse Scheinin '10, and the Scratch Ambassadors led by Stephen Webber and Brian "Raydar" Ellis '05 for pulling together an amazing series of events in support of the 90th Anniversary of U.S.-Finnish diplomatic relations.

Celebration in Quito. Thanks go to Esteban Molina'93, Katie Thiroux '09, Matthew Witek '09, and all at Instituto de Música Contemporánea Universidad San Francisco de Quito (IMC USFQ) for hosting an excellent 10-year anniversary celebration in Quito, Ecuador. IMC USFQ will also host the 2010 Berklee International Network Summit.

Berklee in Belgrade. Vladimir Djordjevic, his team at Multikultivator, and the faculty and staff at the Stankovic Music School in Belgrade, Serbia, hosted the Berklee in Belgrade event. Gojko Damjanic '95, the assistant director of international admissions, exerted extraordinary effort to make this event a resounding success.

Istanbul. Bora Uslusoy, the staff at the Modern Müsik Akademisi, Emir Cerman '11, Muge Cerman, and our excellent network of Berklee alumni in Istanbul created a special week of events in Turkey's largest city. Thanks also go to Ahmet Altynel, the chairman of the board of directors at Contemporary Education Foundation (CEF) for hosting an amazing fundraising concert event that featured Berklee Associate Professor Tibor Pusztai conducting the Istanbul Senfoni Orkestrasi. The program included compositions and performances by Berklee students Michelle Walter, Emir Cerman, Burak Besir, Ekin Cengizkan, and Bulut Gulen.

Amman, Jordan and Ramallah, Palestine. We thank the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah and the National Music Conservatory and King Hussein Foundation in Amman for hosting Berklee during a series of clinics and audition events.

In 2010, I look forward to international events and opportunities to meet with Berklee partners around the world.