Pass the Mic: A Berklee Alumni Podcast

We were thrilled to film our very first live podcast episode at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library. Joining us are Boston Conservatory at Berklee Dean of Musical Theater, Krisha Marcano and Berklee Director of Industry Relations, Latoya Lee. The episode also features a live performance by Berklee student Su Yavuz.A very special thanks to WGBH, Juan Jose Cadena, Sandra López Burke, and the entire studio crew.

Another year, another season 0f Pass the Mic! In this episode we talk with Alumni Achievement Award recipient and industry innovator Charlie Puth. Also in this episode, Padriac loses another Brassy, Variations Signature Series gets its laurels, and episode 2 gets a big tease.Playing us out: Sway by Kelsey Blackstone ’21Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

We're taking a queue from our favorite sitcoms and putting on a clip show for our season finale. In this episode hear Mark Kelley ’24 talk about his one degree of separation from Beyonce, and Jan Esbra ’16 and Mariya Ksondzyk (B.M. ’17, M.M. ’19, viola) discuss the impact of prison music programs. Matt Sallee ’19 nerds out on a capella and Natalie Toro shuts down Steven Spielberg's set.Season 3 premiers in the fall. Thank you all for your support. We'll see you soon!Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Grab your jackets everybody! It may be 49 degrees in May in Boston, but we're having class outside. Jaquel and Padriac recap this episode at the park in the Pru. We say goodbye to our student employee and podcast editor, Jonah, and Zack Lucia joins us as we talk to Gus Borner about building a business with a freelance mentality.Playing us out: The Bean TonesOur students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Emmy-winner Joel Goodman has scored more than 150 film and television programs that have reseived 5 Oscar nominations and 30 Emmy awards. He has scored over 40 films for HBO, 4 ESPN 30 for 30 episodes, and composed the main theme for the long-running and critically acclaimed PBS series American Experience. In this episode, Joel talks about his creative and professional processes, and how staying curious is a key to his success. Playing us out is Evan Nachimson ’16 the third and final subject of our Variations Signature Series, which can be found at youtube.com/berkleealumniOur students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumna Natalie Toro (BFA ’86, musical theater) is a woman of many firsts. The first American to play Eponine in Les Miserables, the youngest actor to play Grizabella in Cats, and the first latina to play Eva Peron in Evita. Her career is full of life lessons, fabulous stories, and a flair only Natalie can bring.We recorded this interview while Natalie was on campus to receive an Alumni Achievement Award.Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

In this episode, singer-songwriter/producer Kevin Ross sits down with Jaquel (only) to talk about life, the pivot, and the future of R&B.Playing us out is Dhy Edwardsberry AKA Neon Blk. Dhy is featured in the premiere of our Berklee Alumni Variation Signature Series you can find on our YouTube Channel: BerkleeAlumniOur students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Robert Kraft (no, not that one) wrote music for TV and film, served as president of Fox Music for 20 years, and produced the soundtrack to your childhood. The man has done so much in music that we didn't even get to his Academy Award nomination!In this episode, we talk about Robert's early recording career, filmmaking with Bruce Willis, and pursuing the work that you love. For alumni impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles, we have compiled a list of resources here: https://college.berklee.edu/alumni/alumni-benefitsOur students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Matt Sallee, member of the Grammy Award-winning a capella group Pentatonix, stopped by campus while on tour. We geeked out on a capella, talked about his family, and gave him some Berklee homework! We also preview Alumni Affairs happenings coming this spring. Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

In this episode Joy Allen, Chair of the Music Therapy Department and Director of the Music and Health Institute, shares five tips for using music to regulate stress. We interview Chandrika Tandon, former Berklee Trustee, Grammy Award-nominated artist, and trailblazing philanthropist. Chandrika talks about the journey of creating her latest album, Ammu's Treasures, and the importance of music in changing the world. Also in this episode, Padriac says "Power Station" weirdly. Jaquel is the consummate professional as always.

In our first ever College and Conservatory mashup, we interview college alumnus Jan Esbra ’16 and conservatory alumna Mariya Ksondzyk (B.M. ’17, M.M. ’19, viola) about their work teaching and performing music to prison populations. We also get to learn more about student employees Deni and Luis and get to listen to alumni music!Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Alumni Achievement Award recipient Mark Kelley talks about his career path, landing the gig as bass player for The Roots, and playing in the house band for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, please visit: https://www.berklee.edu/giving

Listen to the extended interview with Colleen Glenney ’01, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs. We discuss Colleen's performing career after Berklee, and the wealth of diversity within the alumni community.If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving

Listen to the extended interview between Dāna James B.M. ’09, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs, and Zack Lucia B.M. ’14, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs. We discuss the needs and resources unique to working on the West Coast.If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving

In this bonus episode, you willl hear an extended interview with Joe Dreeszen, Senior Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving, and Georgia Lipari (B.F.A ’18, dance), Project Manager for Alumni Affairs. We get to know a bit more about Joe and Georgia, and discuss what the merger between the College and the Conservatory mean to alumni.If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving

In this episode, you will meet the Alumni Affairs team! We are thrilled to speak with members of the alumni community, and love it when you reach out to us. Email alumniaffairs@berklee.edu with any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions. Segments:Digial Engagement TeamPadriac Farma, Associate Director, Digital EngagementJaquel Eley, Assistant Director, Digital EngagementBoston Office Joe Dreeszen, Senior Director, Alumni Affairs and Annual GivingGeorgia Lipari (BFA ’18, dance), Project ManagerWest Coast TeamDāna James ’09, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs in Los AngelesZack Lucia ’14, Assistant Director of Systems and EngagementEast Coast RegionsColleen Glenney ’01, Associate Director of Alumni AffairsSong: Sail Away by Joe Hicks ’13

In this episode Padriac was very excited to use the term, "mixed bag." He wasn't wrong, however. We hear from alumni who attended the LA Brunch, we talk about the podcast's origin story, and we hear one of Jaquel's very first podcast interviews with the talented and business savvy BoCo alumna, Karen Peterson Corash (B.F.A. '76, dance). To cap it off, we are played out by singer-songwriter Sarah Eide ’11. Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities and learn about our schools and campuses in Boston and beyond. To learn more, visit berklee.edu/giving

In this episode, we speak with the Black Scholars Initiative (BSI) alumni panelists Therlande Louissaint, Abria Smith, and Jaymz Hardy-Martin III. We learn about the evolution of holistic education and we make some friends along the way!To support programs like the Black Scholars Initiative, please visit berklee.edu/giving

In this episode Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumnus Quinton Morris (M.M. '04, violin) talks about his academic career as both student and educator, his search for nuturing in music, and the work ethic he found to create success.We also say goodbye to Bill Belichick, and kick off 2024.If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/givingNews Theme 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Seth Saltzman is the senior vice president of Global Services at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), where he has worked in a variety of roles since 1984. He has extensive experience working with writers and publishers on issues related to music licensing, copyrights, royalties, and other matters.ASCAP is a membership association of more than 640,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters, and music publishers.Saltzman graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1981, majoring in piano and film scoring, and continues to work as a professional musician. He has conducted and played piano for hundreds of musical theater productions in New York and New Jersey. He also regularly presents musical lectures on Broadway and Hollywood composers.If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving