Golson put aside his saxophone in 1967 for nearly a decade of film composing in Hollywood. Fuller's versatility landed him gigs with musicians ranging from Gil Evans to Stanley Clark. And Morgan switched career tracks when his trumpet-playing chops gave out, and went on to build one of the country's strongest jazz education programs, at the Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Larry Bethune encouraged the class of 2003 to apply a similar openness and flexibility toward their music studies. Berklee is a crucible of musical ideas.
All music is welcomed here.
Pursue your dream with your mind, ears, and heart wide open. Remaining open to one's own musical vision was the central theme of a dynamic and humorous speech delivered by student Chris Opperman . When the speeches ended, the Performance Center crew removed the chairs and lectern from the stage and opened the curtains for a 10-song tribute to the honorees, performed by students and directed by Berklee's Yo Team. But first I know it starts inside of me. Berklee's entering students might have been saying the same thing to themselves as they left the Performance Center, contemplating the year of study ahead.