Melissa Stoner Graduates From Berklee College of Music

BOSTON, MA (07/21/2010)(readMedia)-- Melissa Stoner of Schenectady participated in Berklee College of Music's 2010 Commencement held recently in Boston at Boston University's Agganis Arena. Stoner received a Degree in Electronic Production and Design and Film Scoring from President of Berklee College of Music, Roger Brown. Berklee president Roger H. Brown presented honorary doctor of music degrees to legendary songwriting team and Sound of Philadelphia architects Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff; Spain's most influential flamenco artist and one of the world's most revered guitarists Paco de Lucia; Africa-born singer/songwriter and humanitarian Angelique Kidjo; and jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Kenny Barron. Gamble delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and more than 4,000 guests.

Berklee's class of 2010 included more than 850 students graduating with bachelor of music degrees or professional diplomas. Female graduates numbered 282, representing 33 percent of the total class-- an increase of five percent from 2009. International students from 54 different countries made up 34 percent of the calss-- an increase of 21 percent from 2009. The largest number of graduates from outside the U.S. were from South Korea and Japan. Spanish and Latin American graduates numbered 57-- an increase of 15 students from 2009. Domestic students were from 44 U.S. states-- the greatest number from Massachusetts, California, and New York. The top three majors were professional music, performance, and music business/management. Guitar, voice, and piano were the three most common means of musical expression among the students of the graduating class.

In his commencement address, Gamble encouraged the class to be more than songwriters, guitar players, or business people, but also ambassadors of love through their music. He quoted "Love Train," a number one hit that he and Huff wrote for the O'Jays: "People all over the world/ Join hands/ Start a love train/ Don't miss it/ 'Cause if you miss it/ I'll feel sorry for you," and led a brief sing-along of the universally familiar chorus.

"It's wonderful to be young and gifted," he said. "The future is like a piece of clay. You have the ability to mold it and shape it any way you want. It's right in the palm of your hands. But you have to be committed, you have to be persistent and you have to perservere through all of the setbacks to make your dreams come true. Learn from yesterday, live today at it's maximum, and do great planning for tomorrow."

This year's honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their achievements in contemporary music, for their enduring contributions to popular culture, and for the influence their careers and music have had over Berklee's international student body. Gamble, Huff, de Lucia, Kidjo, and Barron join the ranks of such esteemed recipients as Duke Ellington, David Bowie, Count Basie, B.B. King, Sting, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Pat Metheny, Loretta Lynn, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Joel, Bonnie Rait, Quincy Jones, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Smokey Robinson, Linda Ronstadt, and Patti Labelle.

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principal that the best way to prepare students for careers in music was through the study and practice of contemporary music. For over half a century, the college has evolved constantly to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. With over a dozen performance and nonperformance majors, a diverse and talented student body representing over 70 countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today - and tomorrow.

Hi-Resolution photo is available upon request.