Portsmouth-based multi-instrumentalist Max Grazier is on the path to a career in music. Grazier, 18, is the 2015 recipient of the Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship, a four-year, full-tuition award that starts in the fall.
Grazier started playing piano and guitar at a young age. His parents, Russ and Katie Grazier, are co-founders of the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, a music school based in Portsmouth. He began writing songs for the RPM Challenge, which encourages musicians to write and record an album in the month of February.
Grazier and his brother, Jake Grazier, are both members of Seacoast band The Poo Poo Platters, which has released close to 20 albums since 2007. Grazier also released a solo album, “By Your Ocean,” late last year, and toured around New England in December.
Berklee chose Grazier to receive the award after conducting auditions in cities around the United States. He plans to study recording engineering and take songwriting classes over the next four years.
“I love every aspect of music and I believe in order to be the best at what you do, you should know everything about what you plan on doing,” Grazier said in a post on Berklee’s website. — Matt Kanner