Lee Eliot Berk

Lee Eliot Berk (1942 – October 21, 2023) was an American academic who was president and namesake of the Berklee College of Music (founded as Schillinger House in 1945 by his father, Lawrence Berk, who renamed the school after Lee in 1954) from 1979 Under the younger Berk's leadership, the college underwent significant changes. Berklee expanded its curriculum to create new majors, including Film Scoring, Music Production and Engineering, Music Synthesis, Songwriting, Music Business/Management, and Music Therapy. He graduated from Brown University in 1964 and earned his law degree from Boston University in 1967. He served as a vice president from 1971 to 1979.

Berk died on October 21, 2023, at the age of 81.

Awards Upon his retirement in 2004, Berk was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee. 2004: Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan for his contributions to strengthening cultural ties between the U.S. and Japan. Received the President's Merit Award for Outstanding Educational Achievement from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences 2004: Received the NAMM Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Music Products Industry. 2014: Received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Brown University.