Alum

Paola Munda

Position
Instructor
Affiliated Departments

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Paola Munda joined Berklee College of Music in 2022 and is a voice instructor. A Sicilian songwriter specializing in circle singing, she made her first steps in the music world as an opera singer, then decided to explore her passion for jazz and vocal improvisation. Inspired by the master artistry of Bobby McFerrin, she was part his Singing Tribe ensemble in 2020.

Munda has performed more than 100 gigs, ranging from Balkan a cappella music to Indian and jazz, at venues including Symphony Hall (Boston), Northeastern University, and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (New York), and she has been part of many prestigious shows, such as Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration, as a member of the Pletenitsa Balkan Choir.

Deeply passionate about world music and the rhythms of all folk traditions, Munda currently leads the Lotus Sound, a circle-singing open group she founded in 2017 that was part of the Moscow A Cappella Festival in 2019. The group's first album, Keep Dancing, and Munda's solo debut album, {amuri} amari, were on a ballot to be nominated for Grammy Awards in 2020.

Munda has been an educator for many years while also songwriting, composing, and producing projects for world peace, such as "Pause for Humanity," a song that was performed by Mayssa Karaa B.M. ’12 and supported by the Indian guru Deepak Chopra.

Career Highlights
  • "Pause for Humanity" (2021), composer, singer, executive producer
  • Member of Bobby McFerrin's Singing Tribe (2020)
  • {amuri} amari (2020), composer, singer
  • "Keep Dancing" by the Lotus Sound (2020), composer, singer
  • Member of Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA); education coordinator of the SoJam festival in 2022; nominator and judge for the A Cappella Video Awards (AVA) and A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) in 2021 and 2022; talent coordinator of Boston Sings (BOSS); instructor of circle singing and master class instructor at SoJam (2019) and the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) in 2020
  • Member of Beyond Music, founded by Tina Turner
  • Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration (Saint John's Cathedral, New York City, 2017), vocalist in the Pletenitsa Balkan Choir
  • A. R. Rahman Meets Berklee (Symphony Hall, Boston, 2014), vocalist in the Berklee Indian Ensemble
Awards
  • Musicality Award with Univoz Vocal Ensemble; winner of Judge Sato's Award, Tele-Con by Tele-Chorus Project in Japan (2021)
  • Finalist, Sanremo Rock (2021)
  • Musicultura Finalist, Italian Folk Music Festival (2021)
  • Semifinalist, Unsigned Only, International Songwriting Competition (2021)
  • Semifinalist, World Music Category, International Songwriting Competition (2020)
  • Grammy nomination consideration, {amuri} amari, Album of the Year and Best World Music Album (2020)
  • Honorable mention, International Songwriting Competition (2019)
  • Winner, Adults Category, with Univoz Vocal Ensemble, Sing That Thing (2019)
Education
  • School Name
    Berklee College of Music
    State or Province
    Massachusetts
    Degree
    Artist Diploma (AD)
    Field of Study
    Performance
    Date Degree Received
  • School Name
    Università degli Studi di Palermo
    Country
    Italy
    Degree
    Graduate Certification
    Field of Study
    Early Childhood Education
    Date Degree Received
  • School Name
    Università degli Studi di Palermo
    Country
    Italy
    Degree
    Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)
    Field of Study
    Elementary Education
    Date Degree Received
In Their Own Words

“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”—Maya Angelou

This quote summarizes who I am, and it's reflected in my approach to teaching and creating; I hope my students can be inspired by it. I have been an educator for many years, in primary schools and kindergarten, and the connection I was able to build with kids helps me to build positive relationships with my students. I believe this is a crucial starting point to any successful learning experience, and I am also convinced that we should all be more connected to our inner child, to build a life and career full of harmony!