Marrakech – The Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival have announced the launch of the “Berklee on the Road” music education program.
According to a press release, the program is scheduled to start on Monday, June 24, just days ahead of the highly anticipated launch of the 25th edition of the Gnaoua festival.
“This 25th edition marks the beginning of a strong partnership with Berklee to offer a very special experience through this training program in the heart of Africa, the cradle of world music,” said Neila Tazi, CEO of A3 Communication, and producer and organizer of the festival.
The program caters to actively performing musicians eager to enhance their improvisational skills, said the Berklee website, adding that it welcomes students from diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from classical and traditional Gnaoua to pop, rock, and jazz, as reported on.
Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old at the commencement of the program and possess a minimum of two years of performance experience on their principal instrument.
According to the Berklee website, Berklee Professor Leo Blanco will assume the role of academic director, while Jason Camelio will serve as the administrative director for the program.
The curriculum will be led by a distinguished team of Berklee faculty and artists, featuring Ron Savage, Vice President and Executive Director at Berklee College of Music; Viktorija Pilatovic, an acclaimed jazz singer, composer, and assistant professor; and Javier Vercher, an associate professor at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain, among other instructors.
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“I am thrilled as always to meet talented young musical artists from across the globe. Being part of a festival that celebrates Gnaoua and world musicians makes this program a very special experience,” the website quoted Savage as saying.
Instruction will be conducted primarily in English, supplemented by Arabic translation, to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive educational experience for all participants.
Blanco, the academic director, was also quoted as stressing that “participants will be guided on how to intertwine their own musical language with others, beginning with learning to actively listen and comprehend the musical concepts of their peers.”
Program highlights feature a diverse array of workshops, including sessions on “The Improviser as Composer,” “Building Your Creative Vocabulary,” and “Styles, Grooves, and Accompaniment Labs.”
Additionally, participants can take part in a series of special lectures exploring the fusion of Gnaoua music with contemporary genres, insights into music technology, and discussions on the business aspects of the industry.
The program will culminate in a final student concert, showcasing the talents honed throughout the week.
Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to explore the Berklee Abu Dhabi Fellowship fund, offering Berklee scholarships to students hailing from the Middle East and North Africa regions.
Interested individuals are encouraged to complete an online application to reserve their place in the program.
The tuition fee for the program is $420, and the application deadline is May 24, 2024.
Applications can be accessed on the Berklee website, specifically on the Road programs page.
Additionally, all enrolled students will receive complimentary passes to attend the main stage performances at the 2024 Gnaoua and World Music Festival concerts.
According to the press release announcing the program, this initiative carries forward the Festival’s longstanding mission to establish Morocco as a center of global musical excellence and to support musicians from all over the African continent.
