The Berklee College of Music team will be back in France from 9 to 13 December 2025.
Several masterclasses will be held with professors from the American school, as well as personalised counselling sessions with members of the admissions team, and a public concert with professors from Berklee and IMEP!
The week will conclude with two days of auditions on 12 and 13 December for admission to the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
9 December 2025: Individual interview with the Berklee team
Come along on Tuesday, 9 December, from 3 p.m. at IMEP • Paris College of Music to meet Berklee professors. They will be available to welcome you throughout the afternoon and discuss your project.
You can ask any questions you may have about the American school, the programs offered, the IMEP-Berklee transfer system, and scholarship opportunities. You can also practice with them for the Berklee audition to ensure you are fully prepared.
10 December 2025: Berklee Masterclasses at IMEP
Berklee College of Music invites you to attend three free masterclasses at IMEP. These sessions are open to the public and led by renowned Berklee professors, offering professional advice and techniques for musicians of all levels.
12.30 : Afro-Cuban Grooves: A Historical Perspective and Embodied Communication through Jazz.
Presenter: Associate Professor of Piano, Zahili Gonzalez Zamora
An engaging clinic that explores the rich tapestry of Afro-Cuban rhythms and their profound influence on jazz. We will delve into the historical roots of these grooves, tracing their evolution from African traditions to their integration into contemporary music. This exploration will highlight how Afro-Cuban rhythms not only shape musical compositions but also serve as a vital form of communication through movement.
Participants will actively engage in interactive exercises that allow them to embody these rhythms, fostering a deeper connection between their instruments and physical expression. This clinic offers a unique opportunity to enhance your rhythmic skills, deepen your appreciation for cultural narratives, and discover how to convey emotion through the dynamic interplay of music and dance.
1:30 p.m.: Road Maps for the Composer and Arranger, presented by Assistant Vice President for Berklee Global Programs and Partnerships, Jason Camelio
Do you have writer block, or a stack if musical ideas you have begun and not completed? Developing a plan to deliver a successful and complete original composition or arrangement could be as easy as creating a road map. This sessions will provide participants with one approach you might adopt to bring you the success you want to see…and hear!
2.40 pm : Careers in Today’s Music Industry presented by Associate Dean of Admissions Tim Lee and Director and co-founder of IMEP, Peter Giron.
Tim Lee is an award-winning scholar, writer/producer and leader who has spent the last two decades fostering contemporary music education around the world. He will lead a sessions exploring current and emerging careers in the music industry IMEP co-founder Peter Giron and special guests.
December 11, 2025: Berklee & IMEP Concert at 2 Pianos
Teachers from Berklee and IMEP invite you to listen to them perform on the 2 Pianos stage on 11 December from 7.30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Admission is free!
Les 2 Pianos
136 rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
Line-up :
Zahili Gonzalez Zamora – piano
Jason Camelio – trombone
Phil Hilfiker – saxophone
Peter Giron – bass
Auditions for admission to Berklee will take place on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th December at IMEP • Paris College of Music.
If you are interested in auditioning for Berklee, it is essential to prepare your application thoroughly. Visit the Berklee College of Music admissions page to find all the necessary information about the application process and requirements: www.berklee.edu/admissions/undergraduate/how-to-apply.
Berklee is a world-renowned music school, and this tour at the IMEP in Paris represents a unique opportunity to discover its programmes, receive personalised advice and audition for admission to this prestigious institution.
Berklee Team
Zahili Gonzalez Zamora is a pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger, and educator.
Born in Manzanillo, Cuba, she started playing piano at the age of 6 and graduated from the National School of Music with a performance degree. Her passion for music has taken her to Canada, South East Asia and the United States. Her Afro-Cuban jazz trio, MIXCLA, has headlined at the landmark Scullers Jazz Club in Boston since 2018. MIXCLA has also performed at the 59th Monterey Jazz Festival, the 2016 Stave Sessions as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston, the 2015 Montreal International Jazz Festival and other highly respected venues and festivals.
Zamora va toujours de l’avant, guidée et motivée par sa musique et son besoin de grandir en tant qu’artiste et en tant que personne, et de partager sa musique et son amour de la vie avec les autres. Elle se sent particulièrement définie par son héritage cubain et son statut d’immigrante. Sa riche expérience musicale, son parcours professionnel et ses extraordinaires talents d’improvisatrice font d’elle une figure de proue du jazz latin moderne et une musicienne influente et admirée.
Jason Camelio has held a number of positions at Berklee since 1997, including his work in the offices of scholarships, student employment, and international programs. As the director of global initiatives since 2008, he played a key role in helping Berklee grow its engagements.
He has cultivated a highly skilled and effective team focused on exploring, developing, and managing Berklee’s partnerships around the world to discover talent and design opportunities for educational and cultural engagement for Berklee’s global community.
Tim Lee : as a Berklee graduate and recipient of the prestigious ASCAP Lieber & Stoller Scholarship, I have spent the last two decades fostering contemporary music education. Before joining Berklee in 2014, I held key leadership roles in pioneering music development projects in South Korea.
Currently, as Associate Dean of Admissions, I oversee the strategic vision and growth of international enrollment for Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
