Boston University Tanglewood Institute announces “BUTI from Anywhere”
BOSTON — Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) — a premier summer training programs for young musicians — announces BUTI from Anywhere, new faculty and visiting artists, and a world premiere performance of a work by Valerie Coleman.
The 2021 BUTI from Anywhere curriculum will take place online from June 20–July 31, 2021. It will feature 20 programs for instrumentalists, singers, and composers ages 14–20 featuring distinguished performers and teachers from Boston University College of Fine Arts, members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), and additional faculty from preeminent institutions across the country. The 250 BUTI students hail from 27 states, eight countries, and three continents.
BUTI Executive Director Hilary Field Respass said, “BUTI from Anywhere is our forward-thinking solution to the circumstances we faced this summer, and we’re pleased to have found so many ways to collaborate, stretch, and offer even more learning opportunities to our students.”
Highlights include:
- 20 online programs for 250 instrumentalists, singers, and composers ages 14–20 taking place over five weeks this summer with virtual classes, lessons, and masterclasses
- Visiting Artists composer Valerie Coleman and pianist-composer Iman Habibi
- Young Artists Instrumental Program debuts a new commission by Valerie Coleman, livestreamed on YouTube
- Joseph Conyers is appointed artistic advisor and artist-in-residence
- New elective programs include career training and leadership, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, music theory and history, improvisation, and more
- Master classes with musicians such as trumpeter Rodney Marsalis, pianist Emanuel Ax, soprano Carol Vaness, bass Morris Robinson, and pianist Frederic Chiu
- 2021 Ensemble-in-Residence Triple Helix will premiere new works by young composers
—A.K.
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William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center honors graduates
PITTSFIELD — The William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center announces it will hold its 44th graduation to celebrate its 2020 and 2021 graduates on Tuesday, June 29. The Center will honor more than 40 students who have completed their HiSET, GED, or Adult Diploma.
The format of graduation will be different from past years as it will be closed to the public. Each graduate will be honored with an individualized ceremony for the student and their chosen guests between 1–7 p.m. Each ceremony will feature video speeches and congratulatory remarks, a virtual slideshow recognizing the 2020 and 2021 graduates, and an in-person diploma presentation by Director Paul Gage.
The ceremony will be held on site at 141 North Street, Suite 4, in Pittsfield. The William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center has served over 200 students throughout the 2020–2021 school year. The Center serve students ages 16 and older through free in-person and online classes. Classes are offered in HiSET/GED preparation, Adult Basic Education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). In addition, the Center offers an Adult Diploma Program and advising services for career and college pathways. For more information, contact Carly Gaherty at 413-499-9530 or cgaherty@pittsfield.net.
—A.K.
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Green River cleanup walk scheduled for July 10
WILLIAMSTOWN — The South Williamstown Community Association and the Hoosic River Watershed Association invite the community to take part in a cleanup walk along the Green River on Saturday, July 10. For the last few years, The Town of Williamstown has been addressing the debris washing into the river from a former town landfill on New Ashford Road (Route 7), but there is still work to be done.
Volunteers may park at the Hart Garage and cross the road to walk down the driveway of 340 New Ashford Rd. Please wear rubber boots or water shoes and gloves, and don’t forget the bug spray. The Town will provide garbage bags and arrange for disposal.
—A.K.
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Edward M. Kennedy Institute announces summer civics programs
BOSTON — The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate today announced its civic education programming lineup for camps, libraries, summer school, and other education programs throughout the summer. The virtual offerings, hosted by highly trained, nonpartisan instructors from the Kennedy Institute, cover a range of political and social issues and are presented through both Democratic and Republican viewpoints.
Educational experiences at the Kennedy Institute use immersive role play and simulation to teach civics and inspire the next generation of leaders. Their variety of programs are intended for individuals of all ages to debate modern day issues, learn from one another, and leave empowered to make their own contributions to improving their communities and the nation.
“We understand the challenges and learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the growing national dialogue calling for deeper civic education for students, as well as adults,” said Caroline Angel Burke, vice president of education, visitor experience, and collections at the Kennedy Institute. For these reasons, the Institute will provide its educational experiences throughout the summer as a resource for educators, students, and adults who would like to learn more about democracy and the role the U.S. Senate plays in American politics.
Among the Kennedy Institute’s educational offerings throughout the summer:
- “Welcoming Words” program introduces K–3 students to the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of welcome for new immigrants.
- For grades 4–8, the “Pathways” programs teach students about modern-day issues such as citizenship and environmental justice.
- “Real Life Civics” is part of the Institute’s response to a nationwide call from across the political spectrum for improved and expanded civics resources for adults. The class explain how the U.S. government is structured under the Constitution, the division of powers among the branches, and the origins of and crucial role played by traditions and norms.
—A.K.
