Berklee ASEAN: Echoes of Home

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Show was a celebration of Southeast Asian cultural heritages that highlight the rich traditions and unique musical identities of the nations represented at Berklee College of Music. Our concert at the Berklee Performance Center featured student compositions/arrangements, and talented musicians from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Brunei, offering an unforgettable evening of diverse yet interconnected sounds and stories. This show was a historical moment at Berklee because it was the first-ever collaboration between established student-run clubs from these countries.

As the Music Director, Joshua facilitated the creative process by calling various talents (composers, arrangers, track producers, performing musicians, etc.) into the production. Analyzing the writers’ scores, choice of ethnic instruments, sampling techniques and digital audio workstation setups to prepare for rehearsals had been an eye-opening experience for him as he learnt more about music from their cultures and traditions. His team believed that working with musicians stemming from different heritages, and blending traditional musical influences with contemporary elements would showcase the dynamic spirit of ASEAN to the larger Berklee community.