Many of the seats in the Berklee Performance Center were filled by the nearly 800 entering students. In his remarks to the audience, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Steven Lipman detailed the demographics of the entering students. The youngest is 16, the oldest is 54, and they come from all across the United States and from 44 foreign countries. Vice president for Student Affairs Lawrence Bethune gave an introduction to the Berklee community. Berklee is a crucible of musical ideas.
All music is welcomed here.
Pursue your dream with your mind, ears, and heart wide open. President Lee Eliot Berk presented the first honorary degree to Dr. Robert Morgan, retired director of the Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. His program has become a national model for the successful training of young jazz musicians. He also gave details of Fuller's work with jazz luminaries John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Lester Young, and fellow honoree Benny Golson. I never knew it would culminate in this.