Berklee Program in Santo Domingo Concludes, Awards 43 Scholarships

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Berklee en Santo Domingo 2026 international academic program concluded Saturday, culminating a week of intensive musical training with a student concert and a ceremony where 43 participants received scholarships to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

The program, which gathered nearly 200 selected students from various regions across the Dominican Republic, wrapped up at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater.

The closing concert showcased the significant progress and achievements made by the students during the rigorous training. Following the performance, a formal closing ceremony took place with cultural and academic authorities in attendance.

During the ceremony, 43 students were awarded scholarships to Berklee. Thirty of these recipients hailed from the National Conservatory of Music. Among the scholarship winners was Ángel Sánchez Volquez, who received the distinguished Michel Camilo scholarship.

Key officials present included Roberto Ángel Salcedo, Minister of Culture; Ron Savage, Vice President and Executive Director of Berklee College of Music; Amaury Sánchez, Deputy Minister of Creativity and Artistic Training; and María Martínez Iturriaga, Senior Vice President of Berklee Global.

Also attending were Marinella Sallent, Director General of Fine Arts; Paola González, Director of the National Conservatory of Music; and Javier Vargas, Coordinator for Berklee en Santo Domingo.

The program, held from January 5 to 10, was a collaborative effort organized by the Ministry of Culture, in coordination with the General Directorate of Fine Arts, the National Conservatory of Music, and Berklee College of Music. Its aim was to provide specialized musical education conforming to international academic standards.

Financial backing for the initiative came from the AES Dominicana Foundation and the Itabo Electric Generating Company. Additional support was provided by partner institutions Autohaus, Qik Banco Digital, and the State Economic Dining Halls of the Dominican Republic.

With this edition's conclusion, Berklee en Santo Domingo 2026 reaffirmed its role as a vital platform for educational exchange, fostering the development of young Dominican talent and connecting them with one of the world's most recognized musical institutions.