Visiting Artist News

Each year Berklee hosts visiting artist events with the most innovative performers and creators working today. Often only open to students, these clinics and master classes are opportunities for you to get an intimate and inside perspective of the industry.

YBN Cordae (left) with Prince Charles Alexander

Image by Ben Pu

Scene at Berklee: YBN Cordae
February 20, 2020

The Chance the Rapper collaborator shed light on his lyric-writing process and why self-confidence, while necessary, can only take you so far.

Miguel Zenón

Image courtesy of the artist

Press Release
Miguel Zenón Berklee Quintet Performs at the Red Room at Cafe 939
February 18, 2020

The group will perform selections from Zenón's recording career on Wednesday, March 11. 

Grandmaster Flash gave a demonstration of his revolutionary techniques at the Berklee Performance Center.

Image by Kelly Davidson

Scene at Berklee: Grandmaster Flash
February 13, 2020

The turntable pioneer shared "the Biblical law of DJing" and other practical wisdom from the early days of hip-hop.

Rob Lewis will produce The Show on March 5, following a successful production of Berklee's 2019 Career Jam (pictured above) concert, and serving as musical director in the commencement tribute to Missy Elliot.

Image by Kelly Davidson

Press Release
Berklee Presents The Show—a Pop Music Spectacle—on March 5
February 10, 2020

Produced by Rob Lewis ’94 (Christina Aguilera, Fifth Harmony), the genre-spanning concert will feature hits by Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X, and many more.

Jazz and R&B vocalist Charenée Wade (left) sits for an interview with Kris Davis (right) from Berklee's Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice during a recent visit to campus.

Image by Alex Kawasaki

Charenée Wade on Setting Boundaries and Creating Connections
February 5, 2020

The New York–based jazz and R&B singer talked to students about the power of energy in every aspect of performing.

Ayanna Pressley at the Berklee City Music Unsung Heroes Ceremony

Image by Dave Green

'You Can't Be It if You Don't See It': Ayanna Pressley Urges Representation in the Arts
January 21, 2020

Massachusetts's first black Congresswoman called for greater inclusion in the media at Berklee's Unsung Heroes Ceremony.

Jimmy Buffett spoke to students at the Berklee Performance Center.

Image by Ben Pu

Five Decades on, Jimmy Buffett Is Still Cultivating His Audience
December 17, 2019

The “Margaritaville” singer talked about the pitfalls of signing a record deal and the importance of connecting with fans.  

Toby MacNutt invited workshop attendees to participate in a floor exercise.

Image by Adam Ridhwan

Making Space for Different Bodies: Toby MacNutt on Dance and Disability
December 10, 2019

The dancer and choreographer shared their artistic journey and strategies for adaptive movement in a recent on-campus workshop. 

Robert Kraft (left) talked with Don Gorder about his varied career.

Image by Dave Green

Former Fox Music President Robert Kraft Makes His Own Lane
December 10, 2019

The longtime film music executive offered advice to Berklee students on withstanding the constant changes of a life in the industry.

Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain shared thoughts on Indian music, tabla technique, and improvisation at a recent master class.

Image by Mike Spencer

Zakir Hussain and the Art of Forgetting
December 6, 2019

The Indian composer and tabla virtuoso shared his thoughts on improvisation and a musician's relationship to their instrument at a recent master class.