Faculty

Remember the Ladies: Music for Women’s History Month

On April 2, 2021

By Francine Trester

Francine Trester playing violin in Boston for Women's History Month

Image by Cris Avila

Could we make an event honoring Women’s History Month come together in just a month’s time? With a pandemic putting a serious dent in any live performance possibilities?

These questions ran through my mind as I saw an email called “Music for March” in my inbox back in February. The email was from Michelle Jenney, President of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, and she was asking me if I had any performances lined up in honor of Women’s History Month this March.

In Memoriam: Ralph Peterson Jr.

Posted by Berklee Staff

On March 10, 2021

In Faculty, In Memoriam

Dear members of the Berklee community,

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Berklee has lost another of its icons. Cherished faculty member, bandleader, composer, and drummer dynamo Ralph Peterson Jr. passed away peacefully on March 1 at his home in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, from complications from a long battle with cancer. He was 58.

The College Vote: A Waking Giant

Posted by Berklee Staff

On October 26, 2020

In Faculty

By Deborah Bennett, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Image used by permission via the Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license

If the mid-term elections of 2018 taught us anything, it is that the youth vote is seen as a threat to the Republican party. Upending the stereotype of an uniformed, unenthusiastic constituency, a 79% jump in voter turnout amongst youth tilted the scales for Democrats in senate and gubernatorial races in places like Wisconsin, Nevada and Montana. A younger, more diverse host of candidates such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York and Ayanna Pressley in Massachusetts inspired young voters in 2018. Two years later, some are asking if 2020 will be the year of the youth vote, while others worry that voter disenfranchisement will put this waking giant back to sleep.

In Memoriam: Dave Samuels

Posted by Berklee Staff

On May 2, 2019

In Faculty, In Memoriam

Dear members of the Berklee community,

As you heard recently, Dave Samuels, a former longtime faculty member in Berklee’s Ensemble Department, passed away on April 22 at age 70 after a long illness.

Dave was a renowned vibraphonist and percussionist who was best known for his work over several decades with the band Spyro Gyra. He was also a member of Gerry Mulligan’s sextet, and had played with musicians such as Carla Bley, Frank Zappa, David Friedman, and Paul McCandless. He cofounded the groups Double Image, Gallery, and the Skylight Trio, and released several solo albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In Memoriam: Janet Haas

Posted by Berklee Staff

On February 1, 2019

In Faculty, In Memoriam

Dear members of the Berklee community,

As you heard recently, Janet Haas, assistant professor in the Music Education Department, passed away last month at age 59 after a brief battle with brain cancer.

“I speak for our whole department in saying that Janet was an exceptional musician, educator, mentor, and colleague,” said Cecil Adderley, chair of Berklee’s Music Education Department. “A highly respected member of the string world, she was humble and cared about all her students, from the beginner to the most accomplished players. Her wit and passion will be missed.”

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Faculty (Page 1 of 37)

Remember the Ladies: Music for Women’s History Month

In Memoriam: Ralph Peterson Jr.

The College Vote: A Waking Giant

In Memoriam: Dave Samuels

In Memoriam: Janet Haas

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