Composer Alan Silvestri Visits Berklee for Annual BMI Day

Berklee College of Music was treated to a visit from a special alumnus, this past Monday, as GRAMMY and Emmy award-winning composer and 2017 BMI Icon recipient Alan Silvestri was on hand to commemorate the college’s annual BMI Day. Silvestri was joined at the event by BMI Senior Director, Film, TV & Visual Media Reema Iqbal to co-present this year’s BMI Film Scoring Scholarship to student composer April DiDomenico, a rising composer, conductor, and performer. The BMI Film Scoring Scholarship was first awarded in 1998 by composer Michael Kamen. Each year, it is bestowed to a student selected by the Screen Scoring Department based on the recipient’s musical ability, financial need and potential for career success.

During his visit, Silvestri interacted with the students of his alma mater and provided a real-world taste of the film industry by conducting a student orchestra recording session. The acclaimed composer also dispensed some of his wisdom and experience in an invaluable career-advice discussion to a standing-room-only crowd.

“The Screen Scoring Department’s relationship with BMI is one of the most important external relationships we have, and BMI Day is always a highlight for our department on campus,” said Sean McMahon, department chair, in a statement from Berklee. “We are so grateful for all that BMI has done for Berklee’s screen scoring students for almost 25 years and are honored by Reema and Alan’s presence on campus to present the annual BMI award to April DiDomenico, a promising, up-and-coming composer.”