Berklee College of Music President Roger H. Brown is in India, marking the college’s first presidential visit to the country. Berklee has recently established the Berklee India Exchange, a platform for cultural conversation about Indian music through artist residencies, musical collaborations, and performances, created on the heels of recent large-scale events, including concerts, clinics, workshops, and master classes with A. R. Rahman and Clinton Cerejo.

The visit will allow the college to further develop the Berklee India Exchange; to learn more about the music of India and its booming entertainment industry; to announce the A.R. Rahman Scholarship, a scholarship to help bring students from India to Berklee, at KM Music Conservatory in Chennai; and to interact with major Indian artists to explore possibilities for future visits to Berklee via one-on-one meetings.

“We’re very grateful to Mr. A.P. Hinduja for assembling a group of extraordinary musical artists, allowing us the unique opportunity to interact with leaders shaping the future of the music industry in India and beyond. In fact, he has been inspiring us to look to India for over a decade since Satya, his daughter, graduated from Berklee," said Berklee President Roger H. Brown. “After hosting Clinton Cerejo and A.R. Rahman in Boston, the college is keen on inviting more Indian artists to campus to interact with students in intimate classroom settings and engage in constructive dialogue around creativity and artistry.”

Says Mr. Ashok Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group India, “I have always been passionate about music. Indian Music is yet to get its full recognition in the Global arena- perhaps; it could be the next best soft power export to the world after Yoga! Thanks to PM Modi’s visit to US, the world has again started to look at India. I would like to contribute to our music’s spread amongst younger generation and what better way than promoting its education. I can definitely say, Berklee brings the highest rigor to music education and its best practices will be an asset to the aspiring musicians across the country”.

The Indian music industry is exploding as a major global force. As the premier college for careers in contemporary music, it is important for Berklee to remain on the cutting edge, including teaching students about Indian music and exposing them to the unique musical innovations happening in Indian popular music, from the music of Bollywood and Kollywood to the burgeoning Indian independent music scene. Hosting Indian musicians as visiting artists and artists-in-residence, who not only perform on campus but also visit ensembles and classrooms, conduct workshops, and may even record with students, benefits our entire student body, representing 105 countries.

For more information on the Berklee India Exchange and the A.R. Rahman Scholarship at Berklee, please visit berklee.edu/india.