Fenway Neighbors Berklee, Boston Conservatory Explore Merger

For nearly 50 years, Berklee College of Music and the Boston Conservatory have lived side by side as neighbors in the Fenway, sharing everything from faculty to food services. But now the two storied institutions want to become much closer.  The schools said Thursday that they have agreed to explore a merger, a union they say could create a national powerhouse in performing arts education, with rich programs in music, theater, and dance. Governing boards for the two schools have approved plans to pursue the potential merger, which could occur as soon as 2016.