Amplify Berklee

During tonight’s program, Starr Desmond BM '19 will speak to her experience with the Berklee City Music program. Desmond is an innovative singer-songwriter, performer, teacher, and choreographer from East Boston. From the age of four, she has always had a love for the arts. She began studying dance at Eleanor Rubino’s Academy of Performing Arts (now known as Jessica Gordon’s Academy of Performing Arts) in 2001. At that same time, she became a student at ZUMIX, a nonprofit youth organization, where she studied piano and voice. At ZUMIX, Desmond developed a love for songwriting and performing and was connected to the Berklee City Music program.

In 2014, she attended the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive, and the following year she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee. Desmond graduated cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 2019 with her bachelor’s degree in songwriting. While at Berklee, she joined the City Music mentoring program, receiving a Berklee Urban Service Award (BUSA) in 2017. Desmond went on to teach private lessons in voice, piano, and songwriting. She is one of the founding members of the Berklee a cappella group On the Vox, and served as the group's director of choreography. Since 2019, she has been teaching choreography at Jessica Gordon’s Academy of Performing Arts. In 2020, Varsity Vocals presented Desmond with the Outstanding Choreography Award for her work with On the Vox at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). Currently, Desmond is pursuing a master’s degree in music education at Boston University.

Berklee City Music Alumni Next-Gen All Stars
Led by Pelin Su Yavuz, pianist, vocalist, and 2024 Fidelity Young Artist Competition winner, the Next-Gen All Stars feature fellow City Music alumni Christian Amaya and Kevin Da Fonseca, as well as other star Berklee students. Suis a genre-blurring artist whose sound bridges neo-soul, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. A proud Berklee City Music Boston and Boston Arts Academy alum, Su has captivated audiences from Symphony Hall to the Boston Calling Music Festival. With over 13 million views and 150,000 followers on Instagram, she continues to inspire a global community of listeners through her artistry and fearless musical exploration.

The Jean-Baptiste Cardineau Show
Jean-Baptiste Cardineau is a French American bluegrass musician and songwriter based in Boston. A mandolinist, guitarist, and singer, he blends traditional and original music in a “nouveau-traditional” style that highlights humor, storytelling, and virtuosity. Raised in the French Alps, he moved to the US as a teen, later immersing himself in Montreal’s roots scene while studying political science at Concordia University. A World Tour Presidential Scholar, he graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2025 and won the 2025 FreshGrass Award for Instrumental Music. He performs worldwide and appears regularly with the Boston-based group the Ruta Beggars.

The City Music Sibling Session
The City Music Sibling Session is an inspiring showcase featuring current students and alumni who are shaping the industry. This ensemble embodies the intergenerational impact of Berklee City Music, uniting current students and alumni—including six sibling pairs whose artistic journeys began in the program. Under the direction of drummer and Berklee Global Jazz graduate Tyson D. Jackson BM ’19 MM ’20, the ensemble showcases some of the program’s most accomplished young artists, whose collective experiences span performances at Coachella, the Grammy Museum, the BET Awards, and many more.

Cosmo and the Four-Strings
Cosmo and The Four-Strings is a dynamic student quartet featuring Cosmo Ling (violin 1), Melinda Huang (violin 2), Emma Sandbothe (viola), and Celia Sieckert (cello). Their vibrant performances span pop, tango, classical, and film music. With a collaborative approach that embraces creativity and exploration, the ensemble transforms every performance into a unique and memorable experience.

Diamond Cut Big Band
Led by Grammy Award–nominated saxophonist and composer Tia Fuller and fellow Grammy Award-winner and trumpeter Bijon Watson, Berklee’s Diamond Cut Big Band is one of the college’s premier ensembles. Featuring top emerging jazz talent, the ensemble performs a bold repertoire that balances tradition with innovation, including original compositions by Fuller. With artistry, range, and vision, the Diamond Cut Big Band showcases both musical excellence and the power of collective expression.

Eguie Castrillo Salsa Orchestra
Dance the night away with Grammy Award–winning percussionist and Berklee faculty member Eguie Castrillo and his Salsa Orchestra. Known for dynamic performances and infectious rhythms, the ensemble delivers a high-energy mix of Latin music, including mambo, salsa, bachata, and calypso. Castrillo has performed with Tito Puente ‘95H; Celia Cruz; Steve Winwood; Jennifer Lopez; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Arturo Sandoval; and more. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he has toured internationally and is a sought-after educator. To turn up the heat, dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee will join, engaging the crowd in salsa and other Latin dance styles.

Brian “Raydar” Ellis
Brian “Raydar” Ellis is a DJ, MC, producer, and educator whose electrifying blend of hip-hop and jazz has made him a leading voice in contemporary music. A Berklee alumnus and faculty member, he is a core member of the genre-defying Revive Big Band and has contributed to Grammy Award–winning projects with esperanza spalding BM ’05 ’18H, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chris Dave, Chief Xtian aTunde Adjuah BM ’04, Robert Glasper, and Keyon Harrold. His remix work for Blue Note Records and performances at venues from the Kennedy Center to the Museum of Modern Art reflect his versatility and artistry. At the Gala, Ellis brings a floor-shaking, genre-bending set that’s equal parts innovation and groove.

Chelsey Green and the Green Project
Billboard-charting artist Dr. Chelsey Green brings new life to the violin with her ensemble, Chelsey Green and the Green Project, blending classical training with jazz, soul, funk, and R&B. With five acclaimed studio projects and tours across the US and abroad, her performances captivate audiences worldwide. She has performed with Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Terri Lyne Carrington, Samara Joy, Wu-Tang Clan, Maxwell, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Pops. In 2024, she made history as the first Black woman and youngest person ever elected chair of the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy.

K-pop and Beyond Dance Party
Experience the energy of K-pop live with B-Girls, Berklee’s premier K-pop ensemble. Led by student directors Hyeri Han and Christine Lee, with faculty support from Dr. Ray Seol, the group was founded in 2024 as an experiential learning project and has grown into a fully student-run initiative. Performing today’s top K-pop hits as well as original songs with choreography, B-Girls is joined by Koji and Friends, a powerhouse student band led by Koji Kim Muraishi and featuring standout talent, such as Jihae Kim (CJ Foundation and Presidential Scholar) and vocalist Sofia Shkidchenko. Dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee will also join, fresh from their appearance at KCON, the world’s largest celebration of Korean culture and music.

Overjoyed Gospel Ensemble
The Overjoyed Gospel Ensemble celebrates the breadth of gospel music, from traditional spirituals and hymns to contemporary praise and worship. With rich harmonies and a dynamic rhythm section, the group is led by Jerome Kyles, acclaimed vocalist, pianist, organist, and minister of worship and arts at Abyssinia Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Kyles has performed with Andraé Crouch, Jonathan Butler, the Boston Pops, Diana Ross, and more. The ensemble’s performances are both musically masterful and spiritually uplifting.

The Roots Berklee Jam Session
Led by Sean Skeete, drummer, musical director, and dean of the Professional Performance Division at Berklee, this powerhouse jam session assembles a rotating cast of Berklee faculty—some of whom are alumni of the inaugural Berklee City Music class and the college—for a genre-bending night of deep musical chemistry and high-level improvisation. Inspired by the spirit of the Roots Grammy Jam, led by Questlove, the session blends spontaneity, virtuosity, and collaborative fire. With emcees, vocalists, and instrumentalists featured throughout the night, the room becomes a space for open-format creativity. Expect sharp verses, fearless interplay, and a vibe that’s part showcase, part late-night cypher.

Youngblood Brass Band
The sound, soul, and spirit of New Orleans come to life through the joyful, high-energy tradition of second line—a vibrant, deeply rooted cultural expression born from African American community celebrations. Often called the quintessential New Orleans art form, second lining blends brass, percussion, and movement into a spirited, street-parade-style performance. With nearly all members hailing from New Orleans, Youngblood Brass Band is a dynamic student-led ensemble channeling this legacy with heart and authenticity. Among the members, trumpeter and composer Trevon Sullen-Trotter BM ’23 represents a full-circle moment for the Gala—a proud alumnus of City Music and the college, and currently a graduate student in the Berklee Global Jazz program.