The Dominican Republic Ministry of Culture and the National Conservatory of Music have opened applications for the Berklee in Santo Domingo 2027 educational program.
The initiative will provide free musical training from January 5 to January 10, 2027, to selected high school and university students across the country.
Organizers announced that the program gives young musicians the opportunity to strengthen their musical knowledge and polish their performance skills alongside professors and artists associated with Berklee College of Music.
The project is organized by the Ministry of Culture together with the National Conservatory of Music, which operates under the General Directorate of Fine Arts. Selected participants will take part in the week of instruction at no cost.
Application requirements and candidate eligibility
The call for applications is open exclusively to citizens of the Dominican Republic. Candidates must be at least 15 years old by the time the program begins on January 5, 2027.
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of six months of musical experience. This requirement applies to musicians who play an instrument as well as singers who perform as vocalists.
The program is aimed at high school and university students who want to broaden their musical training. Organizers designed the curriculum to accommodate students who are actively pursuing music alongside their regular studies.
Interested musicians must submit their applications through the official registration form on the Berklee website. The deadline to complete the online form is Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
The results of the selection process will be announced on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Students chosen for the program will be admitted without paying any tuition or participation fees.
Audition video submission rules
As part of the formal application, prospective students must submit links to at least two performance videos. These recordings will be used by evaluators to assess each candidate's musical and interpretive abilities.
Each video must have a duration of between two and three minutes. All submitted recordings must have been filmed during the past six months to reflect the student's current skill level.
The audition videos must be uploaded to publicly accessible platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive. Submissions with restricted or broken links will not be evaluated by the selection committee.
Organizers advised candidates to complete the registration process well in advance of the deadline. They also emphasized that applicants should verify that their video links play smoothly and remain accessible without password restrictions.
Teaching staff and visiting artists
The 2027 edition will feature a teaching faculty composed of experienced artists and academic professionals affiliated with Berklee College of Music across various disciplines.
Bassist Fernando Huergo will serve as the academic director of the program. The faculty also includes Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, an associate professor of piano, and drummer Ivanna Cuesta, an artist associated with Berklee.
The instructional lineup features pianist Josean Jacobo, along with guitarists Tyrone Chase and Norm Zocher. Vocal professor Nadia Washington will lead voice coaching, and woodwind musician Daryl Lowery will teach wind instruments.
Jason Camelio, the assistant vice president of Berklee Global, will also take part in the Santo Domingo program to support the educational sessions and institutional administration.
Daily schedule and closing concert
Classes will generally be held from Monday to Friday, running from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The daily schedule includes a one hour lunch break for students and instructors.
The program will conclude on Saturday of that week with a final student concert and an official closing ceremony. Specific details regarding the concert schedule and the ceremony will be communicated directly to the selected students.
Musicians seeking additional information can visit the official Berklee website at www.berklee.edu/berkleeontheroad/berklee-in-santo-domingo-application-form or write to program coordinators by email at [email protected].
Institutions behind the initiative
Berklee College of Music is a renowned private music college located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1945, the institution is celebrated internationally for its programs in jazz, contemporary music, songwriting, and music production.
The college conducts outreach efforts worldwide through its Berklee on the Road initiative. These programs send conservatory faculty to cities across Latin America and other regions, offering local students specialized workshops, masterclasses, and auditions for international study.
The National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo serves as the primary public institution for formal music education in the Dominican Republic. Operating under the General Directorate of Fine Arts and the Ministry of Culture, the conservatory trains classical and contemporary performers.
The recurring collaboration between Dominican cultural authorities and Berklee provides young island musicians with access to world class instruction at home. The program enables emerging performers to learn directly from international educators without having to travel abroad.
