Berklee College of Music

Schillinger House (1945–1954) In 1945, pianist, composer, arranger and MIT graduate Lawrence Berk founded Schillinger House, the precursor to the Berklee School of Music, after quitting his job at Raytheon . [ 10 ] Located at 284 Newbury St. in Boston's Back Bay , the school specialized in the Schillinger System of harmony and composition [ 11 ] developed by Joseph Schillinger . Berk had studied with Schillinger. Instrumental lessons and a few classes in traditional theory, harmony, and arranging were also offered. [ 10 ] At the time of its founding almost all music schools focused on classical music, but Schillinger House offered training in jazz and commercial music for radio, theater, television, and dancing. At first, most students were working professional musicians. Many students were former World War II service members funded through the G.I. Bill . Initial enrollment was fewer than 50 students, [ 12 ] but by 1949 there were more than 500 students. [ 13 ] In 1954, when the school's curriculum had expanded to include music education classes and more traditional music theory , Berk changed the name to Berklee School of Music, after his 12-year-old son Lee Eliot Berk , to reflect the broader scope of instruction. [ 14 ]

More information No., Presidents ... No. Presidents Term of office Founder Lawrence Berk 1945–1979 2 Lee Eliot Berk 1979–2004 3 Roger H. Brown 2004–2021 4 Erica Muhl 2021–2023 - David Bogen 2023–2024 (interim) 5 Jim Lucchese 2025– Close Sexual harassment allegations In November 2017, The Boston Globe reported a culture of sexual harassment existed on the campus, with at least three male professors allowed to quietly leave the school in 2008 after student reports of sexual misconduct with teachers. Berklee's administrators released a statement saying, in part, that the college has rigorous policies and procedures in place to deal with claims of sexual harassment. [ 61 ] On November 13, students staged a silent protest and class walkout to address the allegations of sexual harassment by teachers and staff. [ 62 ] Also on November 13, college president Roger Brown addressed over 1,200 students, apologized to the affected students, and pledged to "root out abusive behavior." He also stated that the school has terminated eleven faculty members in the past thirteen years due to sexual harassment and sexual assault . [ 63 ] The college has worked to strengthen policies to prevent sexual harassment and abuse and has taken a number of measures to create a better and safer environment, including instituting "training courses, creating a working group, and diversifying leadership." [ 64 ]

Berklee College of Music is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). [ 65 ] The college stated that it was the first to offer online undergraduate degrees in 2002, and introduced graduate degrees in 2018, starting with programs in music production and music business. [ 66 ]

Berklee's admission process focuses primarily on an audition, an interview, and on the applicant's academic record. [ 67 ] For the 2017–2018 school year, the acceptance rate for the Berklee College of Music Boston was 33.8%, [ 68 ] for the Boston Conservatory it was 38%, [ 68 ] and for Berklee Online it was 66%. [ 68 ] From 2014 to 2017, Berklee reported acceptance rates ranging from 28 to 36%. As of fall 2018, Admissions updated its applications reporting to count only paid applications. Previous years' totals includes all partial applications, regardless of status or payment. [ 68 ] Berklee offers three different terms for entering full-time students: the traditional fall semester, spring, and summer. Unlike other colleges, entering students may choose their own entering semester. Typically, the deadlines are November 1 (early action) and January 15 (regular action) for fall semester, July 1 for spring semester, and December 1 for summer semester. As part of the application to the college, applicants are required to complete a live audition and interview. An integral part of selecting the entering class is the audition and interview experience, designed to show applicants' strengths while helping the school to assess applicants' talent and potential to succeed in Berklee's dynamic environment. Although there is a general format for the audition and interview, each experience is unique. Berklee considers all applicants for both admission and scholarship through the audition and interview process. [ 69 ] Starting in 2014, the college will audition some applicants online using high speed internet technology. [ 70 ]