Now, the 23-year-old has won a major scholarship to study piano at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London.
While it is rare to receive a scholarship to what is one of the top music schools in the world, it is even rarer that the Dunedin pianist was, until more recently, a mainly self-taught pianist who only started getting his first official piano lessons when he was accepted to study music at the University of Otago six years ago.
"I was an untrained musician until I went to university, but the passion was always there," he said.
"I just sort of learnt by osmosis — looking at scores and listening to music.
"I started making an effort when I was about 16, practising every day.
"And I didn’t have a teacher until I was 18.
"I think [piano lecturer] Professor Terence Dennis was both horrified and fascinated at the same time by my technique.
"He seemed to think I could do amazing things, considering I didn’t know everything.
"In terms of the Guildhall, it is incredibly rare for someone who started so late to be offered a scholarship there."
He would begin his master’s degree in piano performance at the Guildhall early next month, Mr Berry said.
He completed a bachelor of music (with honours) in 2022 and was accepted to study at the Guildhall then, but he did not have the finances.
"Going overseas, I underestimated the magnitude of the undertaking."
So he has spent the past 18 months performing fundraising concerts around the country while teaching piano and tutoring secondary school physics and English, as well as working on artificial intelligence for a New Zealand online platform.
"All the concerts were a good way of perfecting my craft as well."
He now had enough funds to pay for his accommodation and half his first year of tuition.
Fortunately, he also won a $21,000 Guildhall scholarship, which would help fill the financial gap, he said.
"It’s really a wonderful opportunity. I’m very grateful to be in this position because I know how competitive it is to get in, and what an honour it is.
"But at the same time, I don’t know what to expect because I’m someone who’s hardly travelled outside of New Zealand.
"I’m sure it will be an amazing experience, but also quite nerve-racking."
He was looking forward to listening to, and learning from, some really big names in music while at the school.
Alumni include singer Jonathan Lemalu, trumpeter Alison Balsom and violinist Tasmin Little, and actors Damian Lewis, Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor, Nikesh Patel, Sarah Lancashire and Michelle Dockery.
