
Boston Conservatory Graduate Orientation: August 29–September 2, 2022
A warm welcome to Boston Conservatory at Berklee! We're thrilled to for you to join us on campus for New Graduate Student Orientation. This event begins on Monday, August 29 and runs through Friday, September 2.* Throughout orientation, you will connect with faculty and staff, meet your peers, and learn about important resources, policies, and processes that will help you succeed at Boston Conservatory.
The full orientation schedule can be found below. Please note, most events are mandatory, but any events that are not tagged as "Required" are optional for you to attend. Be sure to check this site often, as schedule details may be updated closer to the event.
*PLEASE NOTE: Though orientation officially ends on Friday, September 2, some ensemble placement auditions will be held on Saturday, September 3. See the schedule below for details.
Check in for Graduate Orientation at 921 Boylston Street. 20-minute tours of Boston Conservatory's Albert Alphin Library will be given between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Tours depart from the 8 Fenway lobby. This tour is required for all new students. Attend the tour time that best works for you: Tours cannot exceed 25 students, and spots are first-come, first-served. Please note: After Orientation, Boston Conservatory students may also visit Berklee College of Music's Stan Getz Library at 150 Massachusetts Avenue between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. This online English language proficiency exam is required for international students who are from countries where English is not the first or official language, regardless of IELTS or TOEFL score submitted for admission. The exam must be taken online. It will take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete and consists of reading, writing, and grammar components, as well as an oral interview. The results of the exam will determine if the student needs to take an ESL course or courses to satisfy prerequisites of courses required as part of their degree program. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Interim Executive Director Lucinda Carver welcomes all new students to Boston Conservatory's community. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Dean of Music Michael Shinn welcomes all new students and introduces the Music Division leadership team. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Interim Chair of Composition, Contemporary Music, and Core Studies Mischa Salkind-Pearl leads a meeting for composition and contemporary classical music performance students. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Chair of Instrumental Studies Matthew Marsit leads a meeting for instrumental students. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Chair of Voice Isai Jess Muñoz leads a meeting for graduate voice students. In this meeting, you'll have an opportunity to meet your new peers and ask Chair Muñoz questions about auditions, registration, coursework for the fall, and more. Violin students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. Berklee leadership welcome new students to the larger Berklee community, followed by dean introductions. Featured speakers: Deans and graduate program directors: Berklee Associate Dean of Faculty Development Roya Hu leads panel discussion on what it means to be a successful artist. Featured panelists include: Voice students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. All new M.M. students are required to take a proficiency exam in music history. Learn more about the proficiency exams here. This exam session is intended only for students who pre-registered for this timeslot. The exam is administered via Zoom and must be completed remotely. All new M.M. students are required to take a proficiency exam in harmony and ear training. Learn more about the proficiency exams here. This exam session is intended only for students who pre-registered for this timeslot. The exam is administered via Zoom and must be completed remotely. Viola, cello, and bass students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. All new M.M. students are required to take a proficiency exam in music history. Learn more about the proficiency exams here. This exam session is intended only for students who pre-registered for this timeslot. The exam is administered via Zoom and must be completed remotely. All new M.M. students are required to take a proficiency exam in harmony and ear training. Learn more about the proficiency exams here. This exam session is intended only for students who pre-registered for this timeslot. The exam is administered via Zoom and must be completed remotely. The Career Center is here to support you and help you find opportunities as you explore career paths and pursue your goals during your time at Berklee. During this session, learn how to apply for opportunities through student employment and internships, and discover career programs, services, and resources available to you. This session is mandatory for all new graduate students. Learn more at berklee.edu/career-center International students are required to attend this breakfast session during which the Berklee Office of International Students Services will discuss everything you need to know about F-1 regulations, and provide an overview of how these immigration regulations will impact you during your studies in the U.S. This session is for F-1 visa holders only; this is a free block of time for U.S. domestic students. This advising session is for instrumental students. During this session, you will register for fall courses. Your assigned advisor, session time, and session location will be shared closer to orientation. This advising session is for vocal pedagogy, voice, and opera students. During this session, you will register for fall courses. All students should report to 8 Fewnay, Seully Hall (fourth floor). From there, students will be directed to breakout rooms, by major, to receive major-specific advising. This lunch session provides an overview of the Diversity and Inclusion and the Equity Title IX offices at Berklee, their offerings, resources, including student-facing programs and initiatives, and support measures available to community members who have experienced sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, or identity-based discrimination or harassment. Brass students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. Berklee Online faculty member Jennifer Caraluzzi teaches a complimentary yoga class to students at the Symphony Community Park, just down the street from campus. If attending, be sure to bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing for movement. James Burns, M.D., from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) renowned Voice Clinic, and MGH speech language pathologists Tara-Stadleman-Cohen and Carol Krusemark speak to incoming voice, opera, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting students on the topic of vocal health: how to stay healthy and what to do when you’re not. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Chair of Voice Isai Jess Muñoz leads a meeting for all new and returning undergraduate and graduate voice students. During this session, Chair Muñoz will give an overview of what to expect from the year ahead, provide details on what the work the department will do together, and share his vision for the BoCo voice community. Woodwind students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. Berklee's Health and Wellness Department hosts a session on balancing the demands of being a performing artist student, while also nurturing one's personal growth in healthy ways. The session will also provide information about Berklee services, resources, and programs aimed at supporting your health and wellbeing as a student. Lunch will be provided. The Musical Theater Vocal Pedagogy Sing-In is an open-mic-style event for all new and returning musical theater vocal pedagogy students to perform for each other. This event is intended as a community-building activity, and will therefore only be open to students in the musical theater vocal pedagogy program. Harp students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. This Graduate Orientation reception and concert is open to all graduate students and will feature student performers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Join your classmates and faculty in celebrating your first week! Watch the live performance here. Percussion students are required to perform an audition that will be used to determine ensemble placement. Your specific audition time will be shared closer to orientation. Schedule
Monday, August 29, 2022
Orientation Check-in
Albert Alphin Library Tour
(Online) English Language Proficiency Exam for International Graduate Students
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Leadership Welcome Address
Music Division Welcome
Department Meeting for Composition and Contemporary Classical Music Performance Students
Department Meeting for Instrumental Students
Department Meeting for Voice Students
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Placement Auditions: Violin
Welcome from Berklee Leadership and Meet the Graduate Program Deans
Keynote Panel: Being an Artist
Placement Auditions: Voice
(Online) Music History Proficiency Exam, Session 1
(Online) Harmony and Ear Training Proficiency Exam, Session 1
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Placement Auditions: Viola, Cello, and Bass
(Online) Music History Proficiency Exam, Session 2
(Online) Harmony and Ear Training Proficiency Exam, Session 2
Berklee Career Center: Explore the Possibilities
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Breakfast Session on F-1 Regulations for International Students
Advising and Course Registration for Instrumental Students
Advising and Course Registration for Voice Students
Diversity & Inclusion and Equity Lunch
Placement Auditions: Brass
Yoga and Movement with Jennifer Caraluzzi
Seminar on Vocal Health for Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, and Choral Conducting Students
Voice Department Meeting for All Students on Expectations
Friday, September 2, 2022
Placement Auditions: Woodwinds
Health and Wellness Lunch Session
Musical Theater Vocal Pedagogy Sing-In
Placement Auditions: Harp
Graduate Orientation Concert and Reception
Saturday, September 3, 2022
Placement Auditions: Percussion