Berklee Global Jazz Institute

Where gifted musicians go to become leaders of a world community and affect positive social change

What We Do

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its founder and artistic director.

The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.

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Founder and Artistic Director

Danilo Pérez

The Grammy Award–winning pianist and composer Danilo Pérez is among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time. In just over a decade, his distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz, covering the music of the Americas, folkloric, and world music, has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences.

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Marco Pignataro

Managing Director

Marco Pignataro

Marco Pignataro is a multi-talented saxophonist, composer, educator, and jazz columnist. A native of Bologna, Italy, Pignataro has performed extensively across Europe and the Americas. Pignataro has served as the director of the Jazz and Caribbean Music Department and Jazz Saxophone chair at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.

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Sights and Sounds

Watch Berklee Global Jazz Institute students and faculty perform works by Thelonious Monk and Terri Lyne Carrington.

News

The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors take the stage at the 2019 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Image by Robert Holt

October 7, 2019
Global Jazz Students Inhabit the Wonderful World of Garzone

The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors, led by faculty saxophonist George Garzone, had no trouble making themselves heard at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

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  • Lihi Haruvi
    Class of 2015
    Israeli saxophonist, composer, and educator Lihi Haruvi was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee while in high school. Two years after completing her mandatory military service, she pursued her studies and started her career.
  • Layth Sidiq
    Class of 2016
    Boston-based Iraqi/Jordanian violinist and composer Layth Sidiq has been featured on Latin Grammy–nominated albums and performed with some of the top people in the industry. His extraordinary skills and qualities got him a full scholarship to the master's degree program at the BGJI.
  • Grzegorz Wlodarczyk
    Class of 2019
    Polish bassist Grzegorz Wlodarczyk talks about his experience as a BGJI graduate student and how it has influenced him musically and personally.
Meet Our Ambassadors