Back to school

Today, there's no doubt that singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick enjoys great success. That's especially true within the LGBT community, where her status as an out performer has earned the musician a legion of fans. But back when she was studying her craft at Berklee College of Music, the artist experienced quite a bit of confusion about her sexuality and where she fit on campus as a result.

"I was pretty confused about my sexual orientation," admits Ferrick. "I had boyfriends, girlfriends... at Berklee I identified as bisexual," she said, adding that today she generally regards herself as queer. And while struggling with your sexual identity is common enough to members of the LGBT community, Ferrick was also struggling with her school's identity.

"It's weird, because it was an arts school," said Ferrick of Berklee's conservative reputation at the time. "But being queer was not at the forefront. ... There was Boston Conservatory around the corner, and New England Conservatory down the street, and I felt more camaraderie among students at those two schools. I would find myself at parties with those groups of people. I would think, 'What a bummer there aren't more Berklee kids like this here.'"

Nearly 20 years later, students like Ferrick aren't just being recognized for their diversity, they're being rewarded for embracing it. This fall, the college unveiled its new GLBT Leadership Fund, a monetary award grant that supports "Berklee students working to benefit the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at Berklee and beyond," according to the school's website. Announced in September 2008, the fund was formed thanks to the donation of a generous alumna, and Ferrick stepped in to do her part by playing a recent CD release concert as a fundraiser for the newly established grant.

"It was the perfect fit," said Ferrick of showing her support for her former school during the tour to promote her new album, titled (ironically) "Goodbye Youth".

The GLBT Leadership Fund at Berklee was conceived by the school's GLBT Allies organization, "a group of faculty, staff and administration that is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment," said Jeanine Cowen, assistant vice president, curriculum.

Cowen isn't just a part of the Berklee administration; she's also a lesbian and a former student who appreciates the practical and symbolic benefits of a fund like this. "I found that my experience at Berklee was a very supportive one," she said. "[But] I'm still friends with many of my peers from the time," she added. "I can see why some of my friends who were lesbians had difficulty in some of the departments that were more male oriented."

"When I was at Berklee there were very few women... [and] there was a very straight, very conservative straight vibe," recalled Ferrick. She attributes that atmosphere in part to Berklee's roots in jazz music, a genre that she believes "includes a type within its music community that is not very supportive of queers."

Cowen said that the initial contribution to start the fund was a $10,000 donation from alum Dana Friedman, CEO of New York City's Dragonfly Technologies. "She came with the idea that she wanted to help the student population in some way," said Cowen. "At the same time, the Allies were looking for a way to encourage students to be more active and take on leadership roles."

The GLBT Leadership Fund will annually award two $1,000 grants to students for the next five years, with honors going to those who can propose compelling projects that benefit and support the GLBT community. Recipients do not have to self-identify as GLBT, nor are the awards performance-based: "We don't care if you're the world's greatest guitarist," said Cowen. "That's not the point here."

The point is to encourage students to feel safe, comfortable, and proud sharing their talent. Plus, in a world where gay celebrities continue to risk ridicule at worst and pigeonholing at best, the Leadership Fund aims to encourage future musicians to rise to the occasion of owning their identity.

"There are decisions you make based on whether or not something is going to help make you successful, and whether or not it's going to help you sleep at night," said Ferrick, when asked for words of advice for students afraid their sexuality might hamper their career. "Anytime that happens, it's a no-brainer: you have to judge by how you're going to sleep at night."

"It's hard," she continues. "Because we all really want to be successful, make money and pay off those students loans. But ultimately, you'll live an easier life if you do the right thing for you."

For more information on the GLBT Leadership Fund, including application requirements and deadlines, visit www.berklee.edu/glbtallies.