"Liberally Speaking" Episode 2 : Kim Perlak

Liberally Speaking is an interview podcast dedicated to the broad and deep aspects of life and learning in the Liberal Arts.

Kim’s approach to the guitar includes new music, education, and public service. Her performances of classical works, original pieces, and collaborations with jazz and traditional players have been featured on National Public Radio, at the Peabody Institute Fretfest, and on five recordings. Her projects combining performance, American music history, and educational outreach have been funded through grants from the Center for African American Southern Music and Yale Alumni Ventures.

Kim’s collaborative guitar work with American veterans in the concert project “Ben & I Play for Peace” was honored by the PBS program “From the Top” as part of their Arts Leadership series, and was recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, the work of “Ben & I” continues in the Veterans Guitar Project, based in Austin, TX.

At Berklee College of Music, Kim served as Assistant Chair of Guitar for five years before becoming Chair of Guitar in September 2018. Her current artistic work includes improvisation, composition, and course development in a duo with slide guitarist, Berklee guitar professor David Tronzo.

Kim holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin (DMA ’08), Yale University School of Music (MM ’01), and Stetson University (BM ’98), and a certificate of completion from the Harvard University Management Development Program (2014)

“Liberally Speaking” Episode 2: Kim Perlak, guitarist, educator, and public servant Listen on Apple Podcasts