By Liz Burg
Bianelys Javier is a 19 year-old vocalist who studies music through Berklee College of Music’s City Music Network, a nonprofit program that grants music education to young musicians across the country at no cost to them or their families. This summer, Bianelys was granted one of 82 City Music Summer Scholarship to attend Berklee’s intensive Five-Week Summer Performance Program where she has been rigorously honing her skills. On August 10 at 7:30 p.m., Bianelys will join the other 81 City Music Summer Scholarship recipients studying at Berklee this summer on stage at the City Music Scholarship Concert to showcase what she’s learned this summer – and to find out if she’s been awarded a City Music Continuing Scholarship, an opportunity that would provide her with full tuition to pursue a four-year college degree at Berklee starting this fall.
A resident of Lawrence, MA, Bianelys graduated from the Lawrence High School for the Performing and Fine Arts in 2009 and attended Northern Essex Community College during the 2009-2010 school year.
How did you start singing? Are you studying a particular style?
The way I began to develop my craft was by singing at the age of ten in my church. I have studied jazz, but I’m currently studying r&b at Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program.
Who are your greatest influences? Why?
Musically, I would say that I have a numerous amounts of influences. One artist that stands out to me in particular is India Arie simply because of the humility she portrays in her character, and because of her lyrical content. She speaks about life and music the way very few artists do in the music industry of today. My parents also serve as a huge influence in my life. My mother has always been my backbone and has supported me throughout my life, and my father exemplifies a man of optimism. He’s the one that believes in me even when there are times that I don’t believe in myself.
How has Berklee’s City Music Network changed your life?
City Music has showed me that being serious about what you do is an essential part of a person’s music education. City Music has opened up the doors to a new and exciting atmosphere for me, and it has enabled me to an environment where many more resources are available to me. I am highly grateful for this program.
You’re currently attending Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program. What have been some highlights for you?
Meeting new people in this program has definitely been some of my highlights this summer. I’ve also enjoyed working with some of the new professors I’ve met and just getting familiar with my surroundings, and music.
You’re one of Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program students in contention to win a Berklee City Music Network Continuing Scholarship to study at Berklee full-time this fall. What would a full tuition scholarship to Berklee mean for your career? What would it mean to you personally?
Obtaining the City Music Continuing Scholarship would mean the world to me. I’ve been working very hard to get to where I want to be, and I know that I am deserving of this scholarship. I would appreciate it so much more because when I didn’t receive it last year, I’ve learned what it means to really work hard for the things you want to have in life. This Scholarship would allow me to further my studies at Berklee College of Music, and I would be able to accomplish all of the things that I would never be able to do
