Two students attend renowned summer music program at Berklee
Two Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School students gained professional music experience and college credits over the summer at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Christopher Gittins, a senior, and Abby Scullion, a junior, spent five weeks July 7-Aug. 10 doing vocal performance at Berklee’s intensive program, known as Five-Week, thanks to $5,000 scholarships they each received from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Lincoln Learning Solutions, and Berklee City Music.
Berklee summer programs give students a taste of Berklee—a distinguished institute of contemporary music and the performing arts—on the stage, in the studio, and in the classroom, according to the school’s website.
Five-Week allows students to immerse themselves in their chosen style and study with world-class faculty in a college setting.
“Being there, it’s really like being in college,” said Gittins, who wants to pursue a career in musical therapy. “You have an entire taste of the whole class schedule, the real college professors, the work. We had classes all day for a whole week.”
“I had Yoga for Musicians on Saturdays,” Scullion said. “It was a very different environment change. “It was very cool to be able to see the different culture and how much of the arts are in Boston. There are a lot of arts in Pittsburgh, but it’s everywhere there. It’s really cool.”
Aspiring musicians study performance, theory, musicianship, and ensemble playing, which is highlighted during Five-Week’s culminating event, City Music SYSTEM 5 Blow-Out Concert. Gittens and Scullion both participated in the Motown Ensemble and City Music Choir, and had two final performances.
More than 1,000 students from at least 60 countries participated in the program.
“By the time it was over, I could probably go somewhere and have a place to stay on each continent,” said Scullion, who also wants to do musical therapy.
Gittens, a vocal major, is the son of Dan and Karen Gittens of Sewickley.
Scullion, a musical theater major, is the daughter of Jennifer and David Scullion of Carnegie.
In addition, the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and Lincoln Learning Solutions both award recipients with scholarships to cover expenses, including room and board, and travel. Home to the renowned Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, the Center creates real-world learning and mentoring opportunities for young people. Based in Rochester, LLS is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering K-12 learning communities to meet the needs of 21st century students
