Sam Weber is soaking up heat and music experience at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
Every day the recent Stelly’s grad wakes and walks a mile from the pre-war dorms on Commonwealth Avenue to the main campus on Massachusetts Avenue in the “scorching humidity.” Classes in theory, ensemble, musicianship, and courses geared towards the development of each facet of being a musician fill his days in the five-week performance program.
“Berklee is extraordinary,” he said in an interview from Boston. “So far the experience has been vigorous and rewarding. The richness of joining this environment exceeds any describable merit. Not only do we study under remarkable teachers — who are all exceptional musicians — we’re constantly surrounded by the most talented cohort of music students in the world.”
Weber, singer with the Central Saanich alternative trio River, earned a full tuition scholarship to attend the world-class program where the evenings are filled with auditions and opportunity. He hopes to be among those earning scholarships.
“In the evenings there are opportunities to audition for various ensembles and perform around the city at a variety of different venues,” Weber said. “There are auditions to attend the school full time.”
The Berklee scholarship is a continuation of his accolades. A multitalented singer, songwriter and musician, Weber was up for the Youth Artist award ultimately won by Alexandria Maillot at the Vancouver Island Music Awards.
“The Vancouver Island Music Awards were a blast,” Weber said. “The real benefit for me was the opportunity to perform live in front of music business professionals from all over the island.”
Weber and River bandmates Marshall Wildman and Evan Hillier expect to release their first full-length album Light Up to Burn Out in August. It will be available online at weareriver.bandcamp.com alongside their Conflict Lost EP.