Morton Subotnick set to be honored at Berklee College of Music

Post date: 4 April 2024

Reading time 2 minutes

Written by Chris Vuoncino

4 April 2024

2 minutes · By Chris Vuoncino

Renowned for his decades of work within the electronic music genre and his pioneering use of synthesizers, Morton Subotnick has a deep knowledge and passion for the continued growth and development of the field. Back in 1967, Subotnick released the album Silver Apples of The Moon, a landmark release as the first to feature a voltage-based synthesizer, the first piece of both classical and electronic music written specifically for the album format, and the first electronic work commissioned by a record company. Now in his 90's he continues to lecture around the country and will be stepping foot on the Berklee music campus on April 19th as the recipient of the 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Production and Design Department.

Press Photo provide by Berklee

Berklee College of Music in Boston is recognized as one of the world’s premier institutions for artists and performers of all genres and styles. Constantly looking to supplement their offerings, the organization has revealed that Morton Subotnick will be on campus for a special interview and masterclass.

The chair of the Electronic Production and Design Department, Michele Darling, had this to say about Subotnick’s legacy:

“Mort Subotnick is the embodiment of innovation in the world of electronic music, having pioneered so many of the different aspects of composition, multi-media performance, and interactive music systems that we take for granted today. The EPD Department is thrilled to celebrate his long and profoundly influential life as a musician, an educator, and a trailblazer, and our students are delighted for the chance to have their art critiqued by one of the original pioneers of electronic music.”

Master class & interview

On April 19th, Morton Subotnick will be on campus at the Steve Heck Room at 1140 Boylston Street where he will listen to and provide feedback on students’ works in the program before sitting down for an extended interview. The event will start at 10:30 am and is open to the public as well as members of the media. With his decades of work as an artist, educator, and technical innovator, this will be an incredible experience for the students and those able to attend.