BOSTON–Since 2011, Berklee India Exchange (BIX) has been working on multiple avenues to foster cultural conversation about the arts, especially bringing the spirit of India to the world, while also bringing the world to India through annual workshops and master classes on myriad musical subjects.
This year, Berklee India Exchange is visiting Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. What is their goal?
“To reach as many Indian musicians and music enthusiasts, including families, parents, teachers, and students of all ages. We feel that the world needs more art, and often, the conversation surrounding a career in the arts is somewhat skewed,” Berklee India Exchange said in a statement. “Berklee wants to be a change agent, in helping shift the conversation, by providing resources, creating performance platforms, sharing alternative success stories about the music industry, all the while, supporting ongoing artistic endeavors in various cities across India.”
Who are Berklee Clinicians this year?
This year Berklee is bringing Women of the World, an internationally acclaimed, award-winning ensemble, featuring vocalists: Annette Philip (India), Ayumi Ueda (Japan), Giorgia Renosto (Italy), Debo Ray (Haiti/USA), and their guest drummer/percussionist, Patrick Simard (Canada).
Having toured extensively in North America, Europe and Asia, Women of the World repertoire currently spans 32 languages and myriad musical genres. Their latest album, “LIVE” was deemed eligible for Grammy nomination, and they were named 2017 International Acappella Champions at the ACA Open festival, and most recently, the 2018 International Jazz Acappella Champions at the Vokal.Total festival in Austria.
Formed in 2008, Women of the World has evolved into a sisterhood, as much as it is an professional vocal ensemble. The ensemble believes that learning about myriad cultures in the world (through song) is one of the most powerful ways to gain more understanding about each other.
Berklee’s Initiatives in India
In 2011, Berklee alumna and faculty member Annette Philip (Director of Artistes Unlimited, New Delhi), founded the Berklee Indian Ensemble at the Berklee College of Music. Starting with just 18 members in its first semester, today, the Berklee Indian Ensemble is one of the largest and most diverse performing groups at the college, with musicians from 49 countries exploring and creating a new globally influenced Indian sound. Till date, their viral videos have garnered over 84.3 million hits, accounting for 51% of all of Berklee College’s total views, a record breaking feat, and the ensemble now has a touring faction to represent Indian music and Berklee around the world at music festivals and workshops.
Annette joined forces with another Indian Berklee alumnus, Clint Valladares, to create Berklee India Exchange (BIX) in 2013, launched as a platform for cultural conversation about Indian music through artist residencies, musical collaborations, tours, workshops and performances. With collaborations featuring A.R. Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan, Clinton Cerejo, Vijay Prakash and Shreya Ghoshal so far, it has become an axis point for Indian artists and students to share their music and experience the music of Berklee musicians hailing from more than 105 countries, and vice versa. In 2016, three young Indian musicians (one each from Assam, Uttarakhand and New Delhi) were granted Full 4-year scholarships to pursue a Bachelors Degree at Berklee.
“This is part of our mission to make music education more globally accessible,” the statement said.
In line with this same mission, in 2015, the Berklee Tandon Global Clinics were launched in India, offering the opportunity to experience Berklee-style classes closer to home. From how to be a better producer, to improvisation concepts; rhythm section roles in progressive rock to Ableton Live intensives, Berklee’s world-class clinicians offer tools and practical ways to help students get to the next level of their musicianship. These clinics help students gain awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide tools to help them get to the next level of mastery in either their skill, approach, or mindset towards music. Berklee attempts to visit different cities in India each year, so as to provide quality education at accessible locations across the country.
For more information on scholarships and other outreach programs, please visit our Berklee India Exchange site.
Read on, to find out more about events in YOUR city.
KOLKATA (Berklee’s first visit ever)
In affiliation with Kolkata Literary Meet
Kolkata Workshop – Aug 5th:https://www.facebook.com/events/290672178350602/
Kolkata Concert – Aug 5th:
https://www.facebook.com/events/284869465394195/
PUNE (Berklee’s first visit ever)
In affiliation with The Orchid School / Tos Pune
Pune Workshop – Aug 7th + Pune Concert – Aug 8th: https://www.facebook.com/events/227503311233319
NEW DELHI – PART 1
First off, SECRET Concert on Aug 10th in New Delhi!
Secondly… In affiliation with Vasant Valley School
with Berklee Global Partner, Global Music Institute
New Delhi BIX Vocal Forum – Aug 11: FULL DAY event: https://www.facebook.com/BerkleeIndia/videos/2033897873529700/
Register: bit.ly/BIXVocalForum
Suitable for individual singers, choirs (college, high school, independent), parents, educators.
Contact indiaexchange@berklee.edu for High School group discount!
MUMBAI
With Berklee Global Partner Furtados School of Music – FSM, in affiliation with Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies – NMIMS,Indore
Mumbai Workshop + Concert – Aug 12: Event link coming soon!
Mumbai Experimental Berklee Improv Workshop – Aug 13: https://insider.in/berklee-vocal-improv-workshop-august13-2018/event
NEW DELHI – PART 2
With Berklee Global Partner Global Music Institute, in affiliation with Sri Aurobindo Centre For Arts And Communication and India Habitat Centre
New Delhi 5-day BIX Bootcamp: Vocal Intensive – Aug 22-26 (SOLD OUT) –bit.ly/BIXBootcamp2018
New Delhi Concert – Aug 26: Event link coming soon!
BANGALORE
In affiliation with Christ College , Bangalore
Bangalore Workshop + Concert – Aug 28-29: Details coming soon!
AND… a SECRET Concert on Aug 30th in Bangalore!
