Rihanna Ensemble to Present Three-Part Video for Signature Series

The ensemble's videos highlight Rihanna’s legacy and impact on diversity, women’s empowerment, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Tori Donahue

July 9, 2021

The Berklee Rihanna Ensemble will release three video performances paying tribute to the barrier-breaking artist.

Image courtesy of Berklee College of Music

As part of the Signature Series, Berklee will honor the legendary performing artist, businesswoman, fashion designer, and actress Rihanna over the course of three videos. In this series, the Berklee Rihanna Ensemble will pay tribute to the artist and her relevance to current issues and social movements. Directed by Grammy-nominated saxophonist and professor Tia Fuller, the ensemble will release its tribute videos via the Berklee YouTube channel on three consecutive Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET—July 22, July 29, and August 5. In addition to Fuller's direction, the ensemble will be led by Berklee students Lyara Antoine as creative director, Sarai Miracle as manager and producer, and Christian Sessoms as musical director.

Each video will explore a different facet of Rihanna’s career and her impact on a particular issue. The July 22 video will explore the theme of women’s empowerment and the different expressions of womanhood in her music. On July 29, the ensemble will reflect on diversity empowerment and the celebration of different cultures and musical genres throughout her career. Finally, the August 5 concert will focus on how the pandemic and the racial violence of the past year affected Berklee students and faculty. It will also highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and themes of unity in Rihanna’s catalogue.

“It is a tremendous honor to reflect on Rihanna's barrier-breaking work throughout the years, and how it has served as a platform to empower the students of the Rihanna Ensemble and the Berklee community," said Fuller. "It is also extremely imperative that we continue to create opportunities to align students with their big picture and purpose. With this performance, we have done just that! The production of this three-part video has transformed challenges of the pandemic and manifested them into the individual and collective success of the students. Join us in our tribute to Rihanna’s lasting legacy on the world today.”

The concerts will take place on Berklee's YouTube channel at 7:30 p.m. ET on the following dates: