By Mia Lamar

Sometimes Lucy Holstedt dreams of living in the country. Leaving the city behind for good, and taking a one-way trip up north. All rustic mountains and lazy days by the pond.

Holstedt, a 15-year resident of Somerville, even wrote a song about it. However, when writing the song, she found that while ‚Äúliving‚Äù in the country, she dreamed of life back in the city, where ‚Äúthe basement bars down the block/laundrys open ’til 12 o’clock.‚Äù

Titled “City Avenue,” she penned the song last year for the Women Musicians Network Annual Concert, a Berklee Performance Center production and performance by Berklee women students that Holstedt, an associate professor at the college, co-founded 11 years ago.

Founded originally as a celebration of Women’s History month, the annual performance is now entirely student produced and features more than a dozen up and coming women student musicians, chosen from over 100 entrants. Holstedt, who was honored at last year’s performance for 10 years of exceptional leadership to the program, likes to think that ‚Äúpeople can sample‚Äù all different kinds of music; afro-pop, Latin jazz, modern classical, even ‚Äúan incredible high-energy jazz trio led by a female student from Japan.‚Äù

Holstedt’s passion for diversity has been reflected in her own eclectic experiences as a musician and artist. She started playing piano when she was just three years old, and began her adult musical career playing Manhattan piano bars and coffeehouses. Coming to Somerville in 1993, she was the musical director for Improv Boston, creating songs and scenes ‚Äúon the fly.‚Äù More recently, she has performed with local sketch comedy groups The Mrs. Potato Head Show and Greetings from Planet Girl.

Speaking of women in music, Ms. Holstedt stresses that “collaboration and individuality are not mutually exclusive.”

“We need each other,” she says.

Lucy Holstedt and the Women Musicians Network take the stage Thursday March 6, 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at (617) 747-2261 or www.berkleebpc.com.