Berklee Alumni Hired by Kraftbox Entertainment

October 22, 2013

Kraftbox Entertainment has taken on board two Berklee alumni: bassist and vocalist, Katie Thiroux, to perform in concert alongside KraftBox president and artisitic advisor to Berklee’s Valencia campus, Robert Kraft, this fall; and Berklee master’s alumna, Taylor Bailan, as production coordinator working at the company’s offices in Los Angeles.

Award-winning composer and musician, Robert Kraft is both a business man and artist. Kraft’s impressive background includes being part of the New York nightclub scene 30 years ago before moving to LA to score films and produce soundtracks, eventually becoming president of Fox Music where he was responsible for the music of over 300 films. Going back to his roots, Kraft is now returning to the stage and his up-coming concerts will celebrate the re-release on October 23, 2013 of the four albums he recorded between 1979-1985, as well as a recorded live performance. He is now Kraftbox Entertainment president and artistic advisor for the film-scoring department at Berklee’s Valencia campus.

Katie Thiroux, originally from LA, California and a graduate of the class of 2008 at Berklee, will accompany Robert Kraft on bass at two gigs scheduled at: Joe’s Pub in NYC on October 30, 2013; and Largo in LA on November 5, 2013. A multi-award winning student, Thiroux was mentored by Robert Kraft at Hamilton High School Music Academy, awarded mentorships at Brubeck Institute and Vail Jazz Workshop and received the Phil Ramone Presidential Scholarship at Berklee before joining the faculty of Berklee International Network school, University of San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador for a year. She also holds a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (CSULB).

A polished performer, Thiroux participated for four years in the Grammy/Gibson Baldwin Jazz Ensembles; at jazz festivals in US, Mexico, Germany, Finland, and Singapore; as well as alongside the likes of Dr. Billy Taylor, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Hubert Laws; and will release her debut album in early 2014.

Berklee master’s alumna, 24 year-old Californian, Taylor Bailan, was one of 30 selected international students who graduated this summer from the highly coveted inaugural master class in “Global Entertainment and Music Business“ at the college’s campus in Valencia, Spain. A graduate from St. Mary's College of California prior to joining Berklee, she has spent an intensive last year developing her technological and entrepreneurial skills and gaining an in-depth understanding of the music business and production to prepare herself to meet the artistic and entrepreneurial challenges she will now be facing in her new role at Kraftbox Entertainment.