Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus Community Sing-Along
Pittsfield— Calling all singers! On Saturday, January 27th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) is hosting its first-ever Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus Community Sing-Along.
Singers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to sing some opera chorus classics alongside BOF’s chorus and members of the larger Berkshire singing community, including the Berkshire Concert Choir. If you’ve ever wanted to sing along to some of opera’s greatest choruses including “Humming Chorus” from “Madama Butterfly,” the famous “Va, pensiero” from “Nabucco,” and selections from BOF’s 2024 main-stage production of “Faust,” this is your your chance!
BOF’s Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor Geoffrey Larson, who was recently appointed as BOF’s Artistic and Education Coordinator, will lead the event. “I’m so excited to meet folks from all over the Berkshires and to explore some amazing opera choruses together,” he said. “It promises to be tremendous fun.”
Singers are invited to bring their own bagged lunch for an optional pre-sing meet and greet lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Post-sing mingling will also be encouraged. Singers are welcome to attend as much or as little of the day as they would like. Music and more information will be sent closer to the event, but no preparation is needed. Registration is required.
The free event is on Saturday, January 27th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church on First Street in Pittsfield. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents ‘London’s National Theatre in HD: Skylight’
Great Barrington— On Saturday, January 20th at 7 p.m., The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents “London’s National Theatre in HD: Skylight,” captured live from Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End in 2014.
On a bitterly cold London evening, schoolteacher Kyra receives an unexpected visit from her former lover. As the evening progresses, the two attempt to rekindle their once passionate relationship only to find themselves locked in a dangerous battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desires.
Bill Nighy (“Living”) and Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”, “Maestro”) feature in the critically acclaimed revival of David Hare’s play, directed by Stephen Daldry (“The Audience”.)
The presentation is on Saturday, January 20th at 7 p.m. at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets are $17 and $10 for those age 21 and under. Card To Culture is also accepted. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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NAACP Berkshire County Branch will host the 2024 Freedom Fund Award Ceremony at the Proprietor’s Lodge
Pittsfield— On Saturday, January 20th at 5 p.m., NAACP Berkshire County Branch will host the 2024 Freedom Fund Award Ceremony live and in-person at the Proprietor’s Lodge.
Held virtually for the last three years, the Freedom Fund Committee is excited for the return of this annual event that celebrates Freedom Fund award honorees and raises funds for Black and immigrant high school graduates in Berkshire County who will attend college or vocational school for the following two or four years. Through fundraising with the Freedom Fund Awards Ceremony, the NAACP has awarded over $75,000 to 86 students.
This year’s keynote speaker is Broadway actor and singer, Alan Green, whose concerts and appearances span the White House, Broadway, Radio City, stages across the country, and television. The evening will also feature a cocktail hour mingle, award ceremony, dinner, and a dance party with DJ Jimmy Hall.
The Freedom Fund Committee is proud to announce the following 2024 Freedom Fund Award recipients:
- Dr. David Levering Lewis – W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Fund Award for Community Service and Activist for Peace, Justice, and Equality
- Pamela Tatge – Katherine Dunham Freedom Fund Award for Activist for Peace, Justice, Equity, and Equality in the Art of Dance
- Julianne Boyd – Ntozake Shange Freedom Fund Award for Activist for Peace, Justice, Equity, Equality, and Inclusiveness in the Art of Theater
- Berkshire Pride – Jahaira DeAlto Freedom Fund Award for Community Service and Activist for Peace, Justice, & Equality
- Brittney Peauwe Wunnepog Walley – Indigenous Peoples Freedom Award for Community Service and Activist for Peace and Justice
“This year, we are proud to honor a slate of distinguished honorees who reflect a depth of leadership, expertise, and most importantly, commitment to equity in their varying fields of service,” said Berkshire NAACP President Dennis Powell. “Through their contributions, our communities continue to be enriched and welcoming spaces and places for all.”
The event is on Saturday, January 20th at 5 p.m. at the Proprietor’s Lodge on Waubeek Road in Pittsfield. Tickets are $75. Tickets and more information can be found online. Sponsorships and tables are available by emailing naacpberkshirecounty@gmail.com. Donations may be made online or by mailing a check made out to NAACP Berkshire County Branch, P.O. Box 605, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
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Institute for American Indian Studies offers an opportunity to play Snow Snake, a traditional winter game of the Haudenosaunee
Washington, Conn.— On Saturday, January 20th at 1 p.m., the Institute for American Indian Studies offers an opportunity to play Snow Snake, a traditional winter game of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois.) Make your very own snow snake and test your skills!
The Snow Snake game was once one of the most popular winter games played in North America. Many Native American communities played it from Maine to California to Oklahoma to Alaska. Today, this game is being revitalized across the country.
The sport has its history in hunting when long spears were thrown like snow snakes across the ice and snow to catch prey without coming too close and scaring them away. Most often, it was played when the men of the village returned from their annual winter hunting trip. It was – and still is – an exciting game of skill to the Haudenosaunee people and many other Native Communities.
This game is often referred to as a medicine game because it lifted the spirits of the people during the long winter months. The Institute for American Indian Studies is excited to share this game that is great for socializing, and remembering the traditions of generations of Native Americans who came before us.
Participants in this workshop will learn how to make their very own snow snake with Susan Scherf, educator and wood crafter at the Institute. Snow snakes are hand-made from a flattened piece of wood with a notch at one end that makes them easy to throw. Some sticks are carved in intricate patterns that resemble a snake and then coated with wax.
A friendly competition follows the snow snake workshop at the specially prepared snow snake track. The object of the game is to see how far participants can throw the snow snake along a snow trench. The person who throws the snake the farthest after a number of rounds is the winner. The snow snake game is a test of both skill and strength, and a good throw can go more than 100 yards.
The event is on Saturday, January 20th at 1 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies on Curtis Road in Washington, Conn. The cost is $20 and $10 for members; materials and wood-burning kits are included. Participants are welcome to bring their whittling knife, but is not required. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration and more information can be found online or by calling 860-868-0518 or emailing events@iaismuseum.org
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Becket Cultural Council announces 2024 grant award recipients
Becket— Representative “Smitty” Pignatelli and Cathy Terwedow, Chair of the Becket Cultural Council, are pleased to announce the awarding of 14 grants totaling $8,200 for a wide range of arts, humanities, and science projects for the town of Becket for the 2024 calendar year.
Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers. The members of the Becket Cultural Council are Cathy Terwedow, chair; Shelley Chanler, secretary; Andrea Pecor, treasurer; Sarah Reedy, publicity; Carole Rivel, Lisa Rosier, Jane Markham, and Karen Ludington.
“It’s the local volunteers who really make this system work,” said Rep. “Smitty” Pignatelli. “They make limited resources go as far as possible. The Council is very thoughtful in their work and the Becket residents are the beneficiaries.”
This year’s grants include:
- Becket Arts Center for its Music Brings Communities Together and Community Mosaic Public Arts Project
- Becket Athenaeum for its Museum Passes program and community performances
- Becket Beat for local journalism
- Becket Police Association for their Holiday Party
- Becket Washington School for Interactive Science Exploration
- Berkshire Music School, Inc. for Willie was Different: A Musical Enrichment Program
- Berkshire Pulse, Inc. for Intro to Dance for PE in Nessacus Middle School
- Jodi Hostetter for Music in the Park
- Berkshire Art Center for Artcentric after-school program
- Nutshell Playhouse, Inc. for Nutshell Playhouse at the Becket Arts Center
- Town of Washington for Family Fun Day
- Lara Tupper for Pick Up the Pen: Start Your Writing Project
Becket Cultural Council will again seek applications in the fall for 2025 grants. Guidelines and complete information will be available online. More information about Becket Cultural Council can be found by emailing becketculturalcouncil@townofbecket.org.
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Pittsfield Public School school-restructuring community engagement sessions
Pittsfield— The Pittsfield Public Schools is continuing its facilities and school structure study and has scheduled two upcoming community sessions. The primary goal is to continue to build understanding of the study and engage the public on the findings with conversation on:
- Enrollment projections
- Potential new grade span configurations
- A possible statement of interest for a new school building on the Westside
The two upcoming sessions will be held on:
- Thursday, January 18th at 6 p.m. at Williams Elementary School
- Thursday, January 25th at 5:30 p.m. at Conte Community School
More detailed information can be found online.
