Berklee Global Partners with AES Dominicana Foundation and Ministry of Culture for Berklee in Santo Domingo

Applications are open for the Berklee in Santo Domingo program, which will be held January 6–11, 2025 at National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Berklee in Santo Domingo is presented by Berklee College of Music, sponsored by the AES Dominicana Foundation and Itabo, and organized in collaboration with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture and the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, a Berklee Global Partner institution. The program is open only to Dominican residents who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program and have six months or more of experience playing an instrument or singing. Candidates who are accepted into the program will attend at no cost. 

“We are grateful for the continued collaboration and support of our partners at the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic, the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, AES Dominicana Foundation, and Itabo,” said David Bogen, Berklee’s interim president and provost. “We believe strongly in the importance of this program that offers students not only access to high-quality music education, but also to artistic and professional opportunities that will help them create a future through the arts.”  

Fernando Huergo ’92, professor of bass, is the program’s academic director, with Jason Camelio, assistant vice president for Berklee Global programs and partnerships, serving as its administrative director.

“This program is a golden opportunity for local talent, and we encourage musicians to submit their applications to participate in this new edition of the program,” said Milagros Germán, minister of culture, Dominican Republic. “We are committed to supporting and promoting musical education, as well as endorsing educational programs of this kind. Berklee in Santo Domingo will always have the full support of our ministry.” 

The program will include six days of intensive study, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lectures and classes encompassing contemporary musicianship, theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance, and instrumental instruction. Program participants will attend a series of master classes from Berklee faculty and learn from special guest artists in composition, arranging, and songwriting. Students will present a concert on the last day to mark the end of the program. Faculty members will also perform a concert for program participants and the general public.

“We extend a warm invitation to all the Dominican young artists to participate in Berklee in Santo Domingo this January, as a dedicated team is prepared to make a profound and lasting impact on their artistic journeys,” stated Edwin De los Santos, president of AES Dominicana. “The AES Dominicana Foundation, together with Itabo, is honored to once again support this initiative to promote Dominican talent and advance the creative economy. We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic and Berklee College of Music for their invaluable contributions and unwavering support in making this program possible as we collectively aim to provide premier platforms and resources to foster innovation and the arts in the Dominican Republic.” 

Berklee’s admissions team will hold auditions and interviews for selected students who are interested in being admitted to the college’s full-time undergraduate program, while other selected students may qualify for merit-based scholarships to attend the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive summer program.

Applications for Berklee in Santo Domingo, together with supporting materials demonstrating musical experience and talents, must be submitted online by November 22, 2024. Accepted musicians will be announced on December 6, 2024.

About AES Dominicana Foundation

The AES Dominicana Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works for the protection of the Earth and the well-being of its inhabitants. Since 2015, AES has supported more than 50 outstanding young musicians from the National Conservatory of Music, providing them scholarships to Berklee summer programs.