Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Melissa Etheridge and Berklee President Roger Brown at Symphony Hall during the kickoff of the Berklee College of Music fundraising effort.
It’s an effort that has never been undertaken at Berklee College of Music.
Berklee recently announced that it has launched the largest fundraising campaign in the school’s history. The effort, called “Soundbreaking,” aims to raise $100 million. It’s the largest campaign in the school’s 69-year history.
“Music can change the world, and at Berklee, we aspire to be a force in creating the innovations that change music,” Berklee President Roger H. Brown said in a statement. “We want Berklee to serve the most talented students in the world and this campaign will help make that possible.”
Half of the $100 million goal has been earmarked for scholarships and financial aid, the college said. The rest of the money will help fund projects including the creation of a global laboratory for music discovery and artistry and programs to make music education accessible to high school students.
The public kickoff of the campaign took place Thursday at Symphony Hall during an event featuringBerklee alumna Melissa Etheridge and student artists backed by Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. Nearly $57 million has already been raised during the campaign’s “quiet phase.”
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