On behalf of the Berklee Guitar Department, I welcome you to the “cyber stage” of our yearly Guitarist Singer Songwriter student Showcase.
The songs offered at these musical evenings read, to me, like a collection of gems, and remind me of the initial pull which drew me to music, which….along with the inspiring musicians involved….is one of the reasons this concert has a special place in my heart.
GSSS 2013: Molly Tuttle, John Maillander and Alex Gasser make great music in the green room of the BPC, while in the background, Maddie Rice and Tim Merle make buttons, as they all wait for their time on stage.
After assembling such a choice selection for each program, I am never surprised that the original songs, arrangements and performances which each student leader brings to the concert are possessing of strength and beauty. But even beyond this, it is the creative and supportive synergy between the many musicians involved which is awesome to me.
This self-increasing synergy is generated by the young artists and has it’s own momentum, as they share band members to enrich another’s arrangement, or collaborate on and assist in another student’s performance, devoting evenings and keen creative energy in service of the concert as a whole, rather than only their own song. Part of my work is to find and present a collection of beautiful songs and fine musicians. But I believe my job (and my belief in my job) lives in my role as one who recognizes, validates, facilitates, feeds, fans, and has faith in this productive force and in the student artists themselves. It is very gratifying to see both the growing and the harvesting of the fruits of this combination of worth, trust, and effort .
In our live concert setting, we arrange these song gems in a strand; with live improvised music and a visual projection provided by fellow performing students serving both to bridge and to clear the palette between songs, while sets and performers were silently transitioned.
I would like to thank the Guitar Department’s Chair Larry Baione and Assistant Chair Kim Perlak, whose vision and support make this happen. I would also like to thank every musician who has been a part of the show….including those who were my students from years past and whose music gave me the idea for this show…. for their unique and irreplaceable contributions.
Best,
Abigail Aronson Zocher, director
