I was googling “Berklee Filipino alumni” when I came across your blog, BerkleeinManila! What a great blog!

Currently, I’m a graduating student of AdMU and I seriously want to pursue music studies in the next few years. Of course, Berklee is definitely my first choice as it is an awesome contemporary music school that has produced the best of artists. In your words, its “forward-thinking” philosophy really excites me very spirit, and it would be such an honor to be a student of such an institution.

I’m not entirely sure yet, but I will be auditioning for Berklee next year, for the 2012 semester. I’m choosing not to audition just yet because I feel like I still need to develop my foundational knowledge and skills in music (theory, ear-training, etc.). Also, I wanna get more experience with performing to develop the kind of confidence I’ll in need if and when (god forbid) I pass and become a student. I am currently a vocalist of a band and a musical theater performer, so I would naturally want a course/major that would involve vocal performance.

May I ask you a few questions?

(1) How important is it to have foundational knowledge on music? And by this I mean ear-training, music theory, knowing how to play an instrument, sight reading (or reading pieces for the matter), composing, etc.

(2) I really appreciate that you had attempts to have Manila be an audition site for Berklee hopefuls. Very admirable indeed. Has there been any progress regarding this?

(3) What is the passing rate for Berklee hopefuls? How does the audition process go?

(4) My parents aren’t the most supportive with regards to me pursuing performing and music. That’s also aside form the fact that, while I think they can afford to send me there, my dad just lost his job and it would be really AWESOME if scholarships were available. Are they? Are they incredibly hard to get?

(5) How was your first few months in Berklee? Also one of the reasons why I’m suddenly SO interested and fascinated with the possibility of studying there is that one of my bandmates and incredible friend, Ryan Camus, will be studying there starting this September 2010 semester. He’ll be taking up Film Composition. He’s an amazing musician and I’m excited for him. I just really wanna know (more for him) any helpful information that could help him adjust more to the school and community.

(6) Lastly, how big is the Filipino community there? And what usually is there background?

I’m sorry if I’m asking a BUNCH of questions. I do hope you find the time to answer them. I don’t know you personally but the very fact that you’re a Filipino studying in an amazing school like Berklee is admirable and inspiring. You’re living the dream just like my friend will be in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Gab Medina

(check comment for my reply)

I just finished a meeting with Jason Camelio, the director for International Programs of the school.

Basically what he updated me in is. The new budget for the school year will be made available next week and they will be discussion with the higher admins of the school the possibility of Manila as an audition site.

So until then lets see how it rolls!

More updates soon!

Jorel

hows everybody doing here. i think i did okay in my midterms. hopefully i dont fail anything

anyway.

i just finished asking a couple of questions for the electronica people.

1. YOU MAY NOT AUDITION (yet) with turntables. you still pretty much need to audition with voice or whatever traditional instrument. just check the audition guidelines for the respective instruments.

2. most electronica people have audition with piano and voice.

so yeah more updates soon!

Jorel

Jorel

I just finished meeting with Jason Camelio a while ago and lets all
sit tight as he goes through the document report i did for the BIM
project.

something to look forward to in the future.

1. online chat with Berklee admissions staff / students
2. Berklee sending someone to MNL to do a preliminary scouting
3. A Q and A with that same person when they come.

no specific dates yet. Everything is still up in the air. but please
just pray that everything goes smoothly

if ever this pushes through. it maybe still in 2010 or 2011. because they will still receive the budget for international operations by june. But its a good thing cause these things really take a lot of preparation. And theyre doing a lot of different surveys now with possible Audition Sites. Theyll be going to India and China this year as well as additional African countries.

So as of now, hes gonna go through the report i made and update me when he is done. I still need to give him some other stuff.

I would say the meeting went well. Ill work on something more this week. Please go through the audition guidelines in Berklee.edu and start preparing so youll be ready!

Jorel

I still have a couple of people to contact but thats okay. One thing at a time.

Jor

FROM GP Eleria (Berklee Alum and who has worked in the Admissions and Scholarships office)

“Jorel banggitin mo na application fees can be waived if they present evidence na mahirap sila. Usually it’s through a their current school, who vouched for them, telling Berklee na wala nga silang pera. Pinakamagandang advice talaga is that: it’s not for them to decide if they’re good enough to try it out. All they have to know is if they want it. And then they’ll just find a way. Look at you.

Pinoys make that big mistake of deciding in behalf of the decider. That’s what the application process is for. The applicant’s role is to put their best foot forward and hope for the best. And if it turns out that they can indeed waive their application fee AND audition in Manila… what’s there to lose?!”

YUP I AGREE HAHAHA!!!

Best!

Jorel Cayabyab Corpus
jcayabyabcorpus@berklee.net

Just chanced upon a meeting with Jason Camelio (Director for International Education Operations) and Greg Badolato (Vice President for International Programs) today in the International Programs Office (thank God my Vocal Lab got cancelled!) and basically told them the gist of the whole proposal. I told them about why i want this to push through, and about the economic situation. Talked a bit about musicians in Manila (Mr. Greg has seen a lot of functional musicians / sessionists around his traveling and knows that there are a lot of Filipinos who are good musicians /artists) and told them a little bit about my story and how i ended up here in Boston.

Everything is still up in the air but i need to do some research and give them some reports on the local music scene, venues that could possibly host the audition IF it pushes through so i have some work on my end to do before the next update.

But i feel that theres GOOD PROGRESS from my point of view at least. Messers Camelio and Badolato still need to present it for approval to the higher school admin but until i get to present something concrete, then we will just have to wait and see. Please pray it pushes through. Im really excited about this.

Thanks for all your support, ive been getting crazy amounts of love and response from this. I really want this to happen. I know you all are waiting for something like this.

And as always, please do not forget to join the YahooGroups if youre serious about auditioning because aside from here, thats where you will be getting your updates. For those who really wanna get into this and kick off your audition path, please go to the Berklee website (its right there on the site’s sidebar) and click on the World Scholarship Tour link for the audition guidelines. It would be BEST to start preparing for something great like this early so by the time it happens, you guys are just gonna HACK IT. And of course, you can navigate the whole of Berklee’s website for any information that you need.

Dont hesitate to shoot me an email if you have questions regarding the school (THAT CANT BE FOUND IN THEIR WEBSITE)

All the Best!

Jorel Cayabyab Corpus
jcayabyabcorpus@berklee.net
17 Feb 2009

P.S.

I had to take the “Berklee in Manila” banner down because we can’t use the school’s logo in something thats not yet “official” thats what they told me haha but its alright. So just please take it down if you guys have posted it anywhere.

P.P.S.

Im about to watch Esperanza Spalding in the 921 building! Im so excited!

As some of you know, I am currently in Boston studying at Berklee
College of Music. For the past couple of weeks i have been working on
getting a meeting with the International Programs office and
Scholarships office to discuss the possibility of making Manila, our
hometown and audition site for their World Scholarship Tour.

For those who don’t know, Berklee has this program called the World
Scholarship tour where they go to cities around the world and audition
people who are intersted to study in the college. (isnt that cool at
how the college actually goes out to audition people) The nearest
audition site to Manila is Kuala Lumpur which is where i auditioned
back in 2007.

Now of course running at the back of mind mind eversince was. “I wish
they would come here to Manila because i know that they will be
surprised at the amount of talent that the country and city has”

So anyway fast forward. I just spoke with the Director for
International Programs and it seems feasible for now because turns out
theyre prospecting for new audiition sites. Seems like i came in a
good time. Perfect.

So this is where i need you guys to help me out.

One of the factors that they will probably decide on would be how much
people are going to audition. So i need you guys to ask around for me
who is interested to audition for the school. Do not think about the
application process first. I just need to know a general number on how
many people want to audition if there will be one in Manila.

There have been no details yet on how were going to go about this. But
i have some time to spare so i want to know a general figure that i
could give them when we meet again. I will be speaking with the
director again tonight to get more information and get details on what
i need to research in Manila. So for now all i need is the number of
people who POSSIBLY want to audition.

For those who dont know. Berklee College of Music is an awesome
forward thinking music school thats located in Boston. Its been my
dream school since High School and im just fortunate enough to be able
to come here even for a couple of sems. The school has people from all
around the world (LITERALLY!) Zimbabwe, Korea, Mozambique, Brazil,
Argentina, Mexico, Slovenia, UK, Hong Kong, China, Kenya, Japan,
Australia basta you get the picture! It hosts people who have very
dynamic musical backgrounds from traditional to DJ-ing to hiphop,
breakbeats, jazz cats, drum and bass, christian, samba, rock, choral,
novelty, merengue BASTA ANDAMI YOU NAME IT LAHAT YATA NG GENRE SA
ITUNES MERON DITO!!! It has alumni na sobrang diverse who have won
grammy’s and who have very successful musical careers around the
world. Some of these people are Quincy Jones and John Mayer.

If you want to learn music and make it relevant to your career and the
current music scene. I believe this is the place to go to. Some people
might say otherwise but thats their call. Im only talking to the
people who wanna go and are interested kung ayaw mo eh di wag mo na
tong basahin HAHA.

Going to this school is not the be all and end all of your career but
it will surely help you and give you all the information you need to
make great music and songs to inspire a generation!

SO HELP ME OUT AND LETS GIVE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF PEOPLE THE
CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THEIR CRAFT TO BREAK OUT OF THE
MOLD! Please ask around for me and pass this onto your friends.

I CREATED A MAILINGLIST IN YAHOOGROUPS TO FACILITATE THIS DISCUSSION.
PLEASE JOIN IT IF YOU’RE REALLY INTERESTED OR PLEASE DIRECT PEOPLE WHO
ARE INTERESTED THERE. THANKS

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/BERKLEEINMANILA

so i have something to throw when i meet again with the director.
Thanks people. PLEASE REPOST THIS IN YOUR BLOGS, ONLINE PROFILES, ETC.

THIS WILL BE REALLY A LANDMARK OCCASION IF THIS PUSHES THROUGH!
YEAHHHHHHH!!!

Let me leave you with something that really encouraged me this week
from scripture.

“Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please
don’t squander one bit of this marvelous God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 6:1 MSG

ALL THE BEST PEOPLE! HOPE TO HEAR FROM Y’ALL SOON!!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/BERKLEEINMANILA

BERKLEE IN MANILA: Group in Facebook

BERKLEEINMANILA.com

JOREL CORPUS
http://yahihu.com
jcayabyabcorpus@berklee.net
+1 617 8005370