Held right off campus, the concert and symposium on Musicianship & Technology featured several Berklee professors sharing their thoughts on the balance between musicianship and music technology
NOVEMBER 28, 2022 — BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — Donner, leading manufacturer of innovative and feature-rich musical instruments, hosted an afternoon-long event in Boston on Nov. 17 that featured a concert and symposium on Musicianship & Technology with Berklee professors.
The free, pop-up event started with a concert/jam session before heading into a symposium on Musicianship & Technology, featuring several Berklee professors, including drummer Mark Walker, bassist Oscar Stagnaro, pianist Nando Michelin, multi-instrumentalist Yuki Kanesaka, producer John Escobar and guitarist Claudio Ragazzi.
Followed by the symposium, Nevin Domer, Donner Branding Representative and founder of Genjing Records’ also gave a presentation about why Donner had chosen to collaborate with Berklee professors from previous online courses to this symposium in Berklee School of Music.
“It was inspiring to see the Berklee students playing our instruments on stage, trading licks with their professors, and hearing their questions during the Q&A. It's a long road to mastering an instrument, and musical study is a lifelong journey,” Domer said “ I'm proud Donner can support the education industry and believe our collaborative relationship with Berklee professors will contribute to the next generation of musical talent. Several students approached me after the event to say thanks for the prizes they had won and the event itself. I believe Donner's collaborative relationship with Berklee professors can inspire us to discover innovative methods for teaching music, lower the barriers to entry, and provide students with new ways to approach the learning process. ”
Berklee professors discussed a range of topics, including how they found their love of music, how they incorporate technology into their music creation and the role artificial intelligence could potentially play in music of the future.
“I oftentimes tell my students that we're using technology for art creation, and not for technologies sake,” said Mark Walker, Grammy Award–winning drummer, percussionist during the symposium. “[Technology is] always in service of how can I actually make music with this versus learning the button or the fader."
The event concluded with a free raffle where attendees could win one of Donner’s latest products, including the DTC-100 electric guitar, DPB-510D bass, DJP-1000 Semi Hollow Jazz Guitar, Starry Series Midi Keyboard and Pad Controller, as well as the brand-new Arena2000 pedal, an affordably priced, high-quality multi-fx processor.
Career Highlights
- Composer for award-winning films, including Next Stop Wonderland and The Blue Diner, and TV shows such as Arthur and Postcards from Buster
- Performances at Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center, and Hollywood Bowl, with such renowned artists as Gary Burton, Joe Lovano, Yo-Yo Ma, Danilo Pérez, Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Samuels, and Pablo Ziegler
- Leader of the Claudio Ragazzi Quartet
- Member of the Pablo Ziegler Trio/Quintet for more than 20 years
- Recordings with Mili Bermejo, Joe Lovano, the Claudio Ragazzi Quintet, Pablo Ziegler, and many others
- Played guitar and composed music for Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro
- Received Emmy nomination in 2008
Awards
- Grammy Award winner for Pablo Ziegler's album Jazz Tango (2018)
- Emmy Award winner (2004)
- Boston Music Award winner
- Duke Ellington Masters Award winner
Career Highlights
- Bassist with Paquito D'Rivera since 1992
- Artistic Director, CLAEM and ALAEMUS, the Congress and the Association of Latin American Music Schools
- Recordings with the Caribbean Jazz Project, NDR and WDR Big Bands, United Nations Orchestra, New York Voice, and the Paquito D'Rivera Quintet
- Performances with Rosa Passos, Eva Ayllón, Leny Andrade, and Zambo Cavero
- Endorser of Warwick Basses, Aguilar Bass Amp, and DR Strings
- Numerous festival appearances and club performances
- Coordinator for the Latin Music and Culture Celebration at Berklee
- Director of Berklee's Asociation of Latin Faculty
- Advisor for Latin studies minor at Berklee
- Author of The Latin Bass Book (Sher Music)
Awards
- Winner of four Grammy awards
Career Highlights
- Extensive touring and recording with Oregon (with Ralph Towner), Paquito D'Rivera, Lyle Mays, Michel Camilo, the Caribbean Jazz Project, Dave Samuels, Andy Narell, Rosa Passos, Eliane Elias, Dave Liebman, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Paul McCandless, Steve Rodby, Glen Moore, Marc Johnson, the WDR Big Band, the NDR Band, Claudio Roditi, and Patricia Barber
- Performances with Michael Brecker, Joyce, Chucho Valdés, Jerry Gonzalez, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, the Fringe, João Bosco, Leny Andrade, Trinidad All-Stars Steel Orchestra, Simone, James Ingram, Kurt Elling, Kevin Mahogany, Ivan Lins, Chicago Chamber Musicians, National Symphony Orchestra, Sakésho, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Valentin, Steve Kahn, Michael Manring, Will Lee, Bill Watrous, Richard Bona, and Sammy Davis, Jr.
- Several nominations (including composition) for recordings with Oregon, Paquito D'Rivera, the Caribbean Jazz Project, and Donato Poveda
- Clinician: Yamaha drums, Vic Firth sticks, Remo heads, and LP percussion, and Paiste Cymbals
Awards
- Grammy Awards
- Latin Grammy Awards
Career Highlights
- Cannes XR's metaverse, audio director
- SIGGRAPH 2019 VR Theater, audio director
- OASIS Immersion's Inspirations exhibition, composer
- Unraveled 360, director/composer
- HIRAETH 360, director/composer
- Gadgeteer VR, sound designer
Awards
- SOCAN Foundation Award for Emerging Audio-Visual Composers, first prize winner
- John Lennon Songwriting Contest Lennon Award, winner
- Nominated for Berklee Today's 30 under 30 alumni feature
- 21st Valence Scénario International Film Festival, Best Original Music Award
Career Highlights
- Discography as a bandleader includes more than 15 albums featuring artists such as Esperanza Spalding, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Chico Pinheiro, Ebinho Cardoso, Renato Braz, Sergio Santos, Jeff Ballard, and more
- Recordings with Felipe Salles include seven albums featuring Randy Brecker and Dave Liebman
- Performances with the Rogerio Boccato Quartet (New York), Katie Viqueira (Argentina), Jamelão (Brazil), and Jair Rodrigues (Brazil)
Awards
- Finalist, Tete Montoliú Composition Contest (Spain)
Career Highlights
- Experienced private instructor of guitar, trumpet, bass, trombone, and piano in locations as varied as Italy, Argentina, and the United States
- Performances at such festivals as the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Quebec Jazz Festival, and Indonesia Jazz Festival
- With his band, the Bruce Bartlett Trio, released Nasty Habits, Free for a Price, and Instant Gratification
- Private lessons with Charles Banacos, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Mick Goodrick, and Gary Chaffee
Career Highlights
- Recordings include work with Larry Coryell, Joshua Bell, Highly Suspect, Canadian Brass, and Sarah Jarosz
- Film scores and music for media credits include The Finest Hours, Circus Kid, and Walden, a Game
Career Highlights
- Performing and touring experience with De La Soul, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), CeeLo Green, George Duke, and Mark O’Connor
- Vocal direction, recording, and mixing for Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix, 2020)
- Soundtrack production/composing for Dr. Stone (Adult Swim, Netflix, 2019) and On the Block (Netflix original series, 2018)
- Advertisement music production for Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso campaign (2018)
- Recording and mixing for Final Fantasy XV (Square Enix, 2016)
- Produced the compilation album Sparkling POP Disney (2013) and remixed “Deep into Sunshine” featuring N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies (2012)
- Produced and performed "Remind Me" by monolog featuring Patrice Rushen (2013)
- Remix production for Bootsy Collins, Lisa Ono, Chaka Khan, T-Connection, and KRS-One
- Additional credits include Nickelodeon, NEC (computer/electronics company), Mercedes Benz, Kosé, Nestle, Reveur, and DAIKIN
- Recording engineer for Tavares and Keisuke Wakao and Emanuel Ax of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- International DJ experience in L.A., New York, Berlin, London, Paris, Johannesburg, and Tokyo
Awards
- K. Soul Chart no. 1: "Tribal" by Golden Bridge (2017)
- Bandcamp bestseller: “Boy Toy” by Honey Sauce Band (2017)
- iTunes jazz album chart no. 1 (Japan): "One Day" by monolog (2015)
- iTunes jazz album chart no. 1 (Japan): Sweet Swing for Hershey's compilation (2011)
- Dance Track Digital Chart no. 1 (Germany): Darrius Rashaud "It's Going Down," U-Key Remix (2006)
- The Source Youth Music Foundation national rap music competition winner (2003)
