“These are students from a wide variety of backgrounds from all over the world, a lot of experience with music, but trying to shape something that’s really personal to them.”
– Jerry Sabatini
Faculty coordinator, Jazz Intensive
The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its founder and artistic director.
The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.
As part of this week-long intensive, Groton Hill students will get the opportunity to work directly with BGJI students and faculty, including Assistant Professor at Berklee and renowned saxophonist Godwin Louis.
July 13 – 17
9am – 5pm
Ages 13 – 18
Grammy Award–nominated saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator, philanthropist, humanitarian, and entrepreneur Godwin Louis is a trailblazer in the world of music and beyond. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, his music taps all corners of his multicultural background rooted in Haitian heritage.
Louis has cultivated a diverse musical palette, seamlessly blending jazz, gospel, classical, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and global sounds. His compositions serve as a testament to his creative depth, exploring the intersections of tradition and innovation.
A professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he has conducted clinics and master classes worldwide. He is the founder of Experience Ayiti, a nonprofit educational, multidisciplinary arts organization based in Haiti and now active in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Ghana.
In 2021, The Godwin Louis Rooftop Club opened in Lomé, Togo. Located at El Doria Hotel, the venue is dedicated to performances and educational programs that promote music education in Africa. Louis’s debut album as a leader, Global, was released in February 2019. His album Psalms and Proverbs was released in August 2024 on the Blue Room Music label.
We offer a wide range of musical experiences, focused on mentorship, development, and creativity. Over 2,000 students enjoy private lessons, classes, rehearsals, and performances in our inspirational setting, with unique opportunities that bring education and performance together in ways that are uniquely possible at Groton Hill.
Our dynamic learning spaces encourage you to enjoy the process, with 35 state-of-the-art teaching studios, and 2 world-class performance halls, acoustically tuned for a warm, vibrant sound.