Boston Conservatory Alumna Shelbie Rassler Collaborates with Music Giants to Get Out the Vote

In the first months of the pandemic, then-Boston Conservatory at Berklee student Shelbie Rassler (B.M. '20, composition) created “What the World Needs Now Is Love” for virtual orchestra,” a viral global sensation that earned spots on Good Morning America and NPR and praise from the likes of Katie Couric and Burt Bacharach himself, the song’s composer. 

Now, with one of the most consequential presidential elections in recent U.S. history just weeks away, Rassler, along with several Conservatory students and alumni, has teamed up with music industry giants—from famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band—on three projects to galvanize viewers to get out the vote.

“It was a dream come true to work with this lineup of musicians that I would give anything to even just see in concert, let alone work with,” says Rassler.

Take Care of this House

Rassler arranged and orchestrated Leonard Bernstein's "Take Care of this House" and worked with pianist Lara Downes to produce the video, featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Charles Yang, Thomas Hampson, Rhiannon Giddens, and many others. 

Just Vote

 “Just Vote” is performed by Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members Peter Mayer, Jim Mayer, Eric Darken, Nadirah Shakoor, and John Lovell, as well as Rassler and current Conservatory students and recent graduates Emery Henderson, Christina A. Jones, Jake Kent, Gabby Paige, Nigel Richards, Ginger Vogel, and Jiayi Wang. The song was written by Jim Mayer and the video was audio mixed and recorded by Berklee College of Music student Dan Santiago. 

Election Day

This original song, written and orchestrated by Rassler, features fellow Boston Conservatory alumnae Mia Goodman, Ayana Kjonaas, Christina Jones, Gioia Gedicks, and Sarah Nichols, and was recently premiered by The Female Quotient, an organization dedicated to promoting women and gender equality in the workplace.