Boston’s Berklee College of Music – the most influential US music college specialising in jazz – has announced the creation of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), a unique programme at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines.

Pianist Danilo Perez is to serve as its artistic director. The institute’s managing director Marco Pignataro told Jazzwise that the institute will differ from other jazz college programmes. “The Berklee Global Jazz Institute provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given the opportunity to explore their creativity to the highest level possible. The BGJI is designed to help students with unique talent, and wide-ranging musical interests achieve their artistic goals in a new experiential program. Students at the BGJI will be mentored by world-renowned visiting artists through various seminars and directed study.”

Tutors expected to teach at the Institute include Joe Lovano , Terri Lyne Carrington, George Garzone , Bill Pierce, Jamey Haddad and Allan Chase.