Winnie Dahlgren, 2014 March 18
Winnie Dahlgren, percussionist and Professor of Harmony at Berklee College of Music, discusses her music education in her native Denmark, including her studies at the Vestjysk Academy of Music. She also describes her experiences studying at Berklee, particularly her studies under Bob Brookmeyer. Dahlgren describes her teaching style and how she fosters participation and risk-taking in the classroom. She also relates the genesis of the education outreach program No Boundaries and her experiences working in countries like Mozambique and Morocco.
Percussionist, vibes player, composer, and educator Winnie Dahlgren was born in Kolding, Denmark. At the age of eight, she began taking organ lessons alongside her father, but by age fifteen had transitioned to percussion. She earned a bachelor’s in music education and a master’s in performance from the Vestjysk Academy of Music in Esbjerg, Denmark, as well as a bachelor’s in jazz composition and performance from Berklee College of Music in 1997. In addition to her performance career, Dahlgren has composed music for many different jazz settings, including big bands and percussion ensembles. In 2001, Dahlgren joined the faculty at Berklee, where she teaches in the Harmony department. Together with singer Steward Sukuma, Dahlgren is a founder of No Boundaries, an international music education outreach program for underserved communities.
