In an electric start to the summer, I chatted with guitarist Paulina Romano. Paulina is a Spring 2024 Berklee graduate who earned a Bachelors of Professional Music with concentrations in performance and recording/production. Her love of music began in her hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, where, as a child, she often listened to her father play the guitar. By the time she started high school, Paulina was already playing the ukulele. At age fifteen, she followed in her father’s footsteps by experimenting with rock music and the guitar. While nurturing her love of rock, she practiced her technical skills by playing guitar in her high school jazz band. She also toured with a rock music academy in Connecticut. Realizing her passion for both learning and performing, Paulina began her education at Berklee in the fall of 2020.

Paulina’s initial plan at Berklee was to form a band to write and record original music with. However, her current aspirations lean more toward the performance side of the industry. According to Paulina, Berklee expanded her definition of what it means to be a musician. The Professional Music degree allowed her to explore many career opportunities. She gained knowledge of DAWs and production through her recording classes. In her performance courses, she discovered that rock, indie, pop, and R&B are the genres she enjoys most. Berklee offered Paulina a broader perspective on what her career could look like, as well as insight into where her passion lies.

Another valuable skill she took from Berklee is self-marketing. During her time in college, she created a website, custom guitar picks, business cards, and an Instagram presence. Paulina also stated that she made meaningful connections with industry professionals.

Since graduating, Paulina has moved back to Connecticut. She is currently gigging and preparing for her move to Los Angeles. “I always knew that after graduation, I wanted to go back home for a year to plan,” she said. Paulina resisted the pressure of “grind culture” by taking her time before moving to L.A. Being away at college for four years can be jarring, and for Paulina, reconnecting with her hometown and traveling for gigs provides a comforting yet active approach to post-grad life.

Like most of us, Paulina was nervous about facing the unknown after Berklee. “When you’re younger, you have your whole life planned out for you—middle school, high school, college—but after that, it feels completely up to you for the first time.” However, she has found that this uncertainty also comes with the power of freedom. Defining her future is a privilege, not a burden. In true rock-star fashion, she ended her statement with, “I like the excitement of being certain that anything could happen.”

Paulina is currently networking and performing around the East Coast. Most recently, she played with Windborne Music in their Led Zeppelin tribute concert. The performance featured a 27-piece orchestra and was held at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre. Her upcoming gig schedule and highlight reels are available on her Instagram: @paulina.romano.

Paulina’s story of embracing flexibility while planning her future is an important reminder that it’s okay to slow down and focus on what you are truly passionate about. With that, I’ll leave with a last thought from Paulina:

“I would definitely say my heart is on the stage and on the road. My best advice for future graduates is to stay excited about where your heart is.”

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paulinaromano.com

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