Timothy Ehrenreich is one step closer to becoming the world-renowned musician he’s always dreamt of becoming.
The-18-year old has been selected to take part in the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop in Boston.
Berklee is one of the top music schools in the world. The programme will take place at the Salve Regina University Campus in Newport, Rhode Island, US, and will be led by Berklee Global Jazz Institute artistic director, Danilo Pérez, and managing director, Marco Pignataro.
The intensive five-day programme will feature a curriculum including workshops, with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute’s world-renowned visiting artists, and performance studies in global jazz ensembles.
Timothy, who has been making music for seven years, said: “I am ecstatic. When I applied at the end of March, I basically just took a one-in-a-million chance.
“I didn’t know whether I’d be accepted, I had to pay about a R1 000 for my application but I felt it was a chance worth taking.
“Music is all I want to do. I want to complete my degree in music and ultimately become a professor in music.
“So this is the start of my academic music career.”
He matriculated at Mondale High and is now a first-year student at the Cape Music Institute.
“Berklee is where I’m planning to study after my degree. “I was looking for other opportunities there recently and came across this programme,” he said.
“I actually applied after the due date, but it just so happened that I was accepted to one of the top universities with regards to music, jazz in particular. ”
On the final day of the workshop, students will perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. He encourages other young people to push themselves to reach their goals. “Pursue your passion and go after your dreams,” he said.
While some of his expenses for the trip have been covered through a scholarship, he still needs to raise funds for other expenses such as flights. A fund-raiser to help cover Timothy’s travel costs will be held at Lapa in Kraaifontein on Sunday July 8, from 3pm to 6pm.
Contact André Ford on 072 395 4703.
