Applications Open for Berklee in Santo Domingo

Applications are open for the Berklee in Santo Domingo program, which will be held at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, January 5-10, 2026.

Berklee in Santo Domingo is sponsored by the AES Dominicana Foundation and Itabo, and organized in collaboration with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture and the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo, a Berklee Global Partner institution. The program is open only to Dominican residents who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program and have six months or more of experience playing an instrument or singing. Candidates who are accepted into the program attend at no cost. 

“In just a few short years, the Berklee in Santo Domingo program has already had an immense positive impact on talented students on the island,” said Berklee President Jim Lucchese. “We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Culture and National Conservatory of Music, and program sponsors AES Dominicana Foundation and Itabo, and look forward to witnessing the growth and expansion of Berklee in Santo Domingo in the years to come.”

“Berklee in Santo Domingo 2026 is more than an academic program; it is a pledge to nurture the dreams and talent of Dominican youth,” said Roberto Ángel Salcedo, Minister of Culture, Santo Domingo. “Our government reaffirms its commitment to excellence in artistic education as a driver of the international reach of our music. The recently signed agreement with Berklee Online opens a new chapter that broadens opportunities and strengthens the global presence of Dominican music.”

“At Fundación AES and Itabo, we are proud to support Berklee in Santo Domingo, a program that transcends music education to become a powerful tool for social transformation,” said Edwin De los Santos, president of AES Dominicana. “By providing young Dominican talents with access to world-class training and inspiration, this initiative enriches our cultural fabric and strengthens the future of our society. The commitment of the companies behind this effort reflects our shared belief that investing in education, creativity, and opportunity is one of the most impactful ways to build a more vibrant and sustainable Dominican Republic.”

The academic director of the 2026 edition is Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, an associate professor of ensemble and piano, with Jason Camelio, assistant vice president of global initiatives, serving as the program director.

“Joining Berklee in Santo Domingo is a transformative opportunity for students passionate about music,” said Gonzalez Zamora. “This program not only offers the chance to learn from world-class faculty but also to connect with fellow musicians and explore pathways to Berklee College of Music. I encourage all aspiring artists to apply and embrace this unique chance to elevate their musical careers.” 

The program will include five days of intensive study from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with lectures and classes encompassing contemporary musicianship, music theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance, and instrumental techniques. Program participants will attend a series of master classes led by Berklee faculty and learn from special guest artists in composition, arranging, and songwriting. Students will then present a concert on the final day to mark the end of the program. Faculty members will perform a special concert for program participants and the general public at the Sala Manuel Rueda on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

"The Berklee program in Santo Domingo is a wonderful opportunity for young Dominicans to get a glimpse of what it’s like to have a student life at Berklee," added Alejandro Tavares, a Berklee student and Michel Camilo scholar, who attended the program in 2023. "Through this program, many can have their first international contact, which allows them to discover new ways of musical expression and how to successfully carry them out, through theory, direct mentorship from top-quality professors, and without a doubt, a space to enjoy making music alongside others who share the same eagerness to learn that you have or can develop! I am very grateful for the program, as it can be a gateway to great possibilities for knowledge, international relationships, and solid musical foundations."

Berklee’s admissions team will hold auditions and interviews for selected students who are interested in being admitted to the college’s full-time undergraduate program, while other selected students may qualify for merit-based scholarships to attend the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive summer program.

Applications for Berklee in Santo Domingo, together with supporting materials demonstrating musical experience and talents, must be submitted via online form by Monday, November 3, 2025. Accepted musicians will be contacted by Friday, November 14, 2025. 

About AES Dominicana Foundation

The AES Dominicana Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works for the protection of the earth and the well-being of its inhabitants. Since 2015, AES has supported more than 50 outstanding young musicians from the National Conservatory of Music, providing them with scholarships to Berklee summer programs.