Musician and veteran will use master’s degree to help others pursue dreams

CLASS OF 2021

MAY 14, 2021 — Artist and musician Joey Berrios ’20 chose to pursue his master of science degree in business at UTSA to further his long-standing passion to serve others. It’s a quality that was instilled in him while serving our country.

“Being a veteran is something I take great pride in,” Joey candidly said.

He remembers the feeling of being lost after he retired from the U.S. Air Force, so he said he started to write music to cope and to express himself.

“The acumen I’ve garnered from the program has been crucial.”

“At my core I’m an artist, musician and a creative, so when things were difficult in my military career, I’d write and record my own music.” Joey recalled. “It’s cathartic and it’s helped me immensely.”

He wanted to pass on this outlet to fellow veterans.

“I wanted to help them find their creative voice after leaving the service,” he added.

Joey took his love for music a step further while pursuing his undergraduate degree in arts with a minor in music marketing at UTSA. He conceived the idea of a music production company for veterans, by veterans.

“I created At, Ease! Productions, an independent music and art production company that caters to musicians who are disabled veterans like himself,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to build a nonprofit for veterans to create, produce, record and perform their own music to help them express themselves and process whatever they want,” he said.

It was after the inception of his new business venture in 2020 when Joey decided to start the master’s of science in business program at UTSA.

“I knew I needed to strengthen my business expertise,” Joey said. “The M.S. in business program was attractive because it checked all the boxes and was only a one-year commitment.”

He credits the program with helping him launch his company and giving him the skillset to grow his business.

“The acumen I’ve garnered from the program has been crucial,” he said. “With every assignment I receive, I try to think how I could apply that knowledge to my business. It has helped keep me focused.”

Joey also serves as the director of operations at the nonprofit San Antonio Sound Garden (SASG). Its mission is to build a music educational pipeline in San Antonio.

“I’ve been applying lessons garnered form the MSB program to furthering our goals as a nonprofit,” he said. “At SASG, we’re providing everything from fundamental music technology and basic production to master courses on working in studios centered primarily around young artists. It’s been an amazing opportunity to serve others and make music while doing it.”

Joey will use the knowledge he’s attained at UTSA to continue to grow his music career at SASG and At, Ease! Productions.

“The goals after graduation are easy for me really: Help serve others, make music, and love what I do.”

— Ingrid Wright