Student Spotlight

What’s it like to study here? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience.

Sebastien Hollich at the Red Bull Screen Scoring Challenge in Vienna, Austria. — Sebastien Hollich at the Red Bull Scoring Challenge in Vienna, Austria

Image by Joshua Cho

Student Spotlight: Sebastien Hollich

The trombonist and film and media scoring major talks about finding mentors, writing for orchestra, and competing in the 2025 Red Bull Scoring Challenge.

Student Spotlight: Chaiah

Chaiah aka Chiara Baume, an 8th-semester Music Production & Engineering student from Buenos Aires, talks about her experience pushing boundaries and championing artistry and activism with intent.

Grigori conducting — Grigori Balasanyan BM ’25, composition.

Image courtesy of the artist

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan

The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklee's 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his opera's premiere and the documentary being made about it, as well as his plans to continue his education at Boston Conservatory.

A still from Ava Della Pietra's music video for "Marionette."

Image by Georgia Nerheim

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra

The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, overcoming writer's block, and her new single, "Marionette."

Rachel McFarlane holding a Playstation controller

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane

The Canadian composer, who was named the 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games and boosting visibility for composers of color.

A woman singing into a microphone — Image courtesy of Temblores ONG

Student Spotlight: Manuela Sánchez Goubert

The vocalist from Bogotá, Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RAÍCES ("roots"), and how Berklee has helped strengthen her own musical and cultural roots.