Tuesday, October 8, 2024

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Bits & Bytes: The Orchestra Now at Simon’s Rock; Relay For Life; newsboy statue & cemetery walk; ‘Spaces and Moments’ in Spencertown; family nature program in Monterey

The Orchestra Now prepares a new generation of musicians to break down barriers between modern audiences and noteworthy orchestral music of the past and present.

The Orchestra Now debut concert at Simon’s Rock

Leon Botstein conducting the New American Symphony at Lincoln Center in 2007.
Leon Botstein conducting the American Symphony Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in 2007.

Great Barrington — The Orchestra Now (TŌN), conducted by Dr. Leon Botstein, will make its debut performance at Bard College at Simon’s Rock on Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Daniel Arts Center’s McConnell Theater. TŌN, featuring pianist Anna Polonsky, will perform works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn. The event is free and open to the public.

Founded earlier this year by Bard College, TŌN is a unique training orchestra and master’s degree program, preparing a new generation of musicians to break down barriers between modern audiences and noteworthy orchestral music of the past and present. Botstein, president of Bard College since 1975, brings a dual role as both a conductor and an educator to The Orchestra Now. He has been music director of the American Symphony Orchestra since 1992 and co-artistic director of Bard SummerScape and the Bard Music Festival since 1990. Dr. Botstein also served as the music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra from 2003–2011.

–E.E.

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Relay For Life wrap-up and planning meeting 

Relay for Life
Ray Gardino (L) and Terry Andersen (R), co-leads for the 2016 Relay For Life, presenting a check to American Cancer Society partner Stephanie Bosley (ctr) in the amount of funds raised in the 2015 Relay For Life.

Great Barrington – The Relay For Life of Berkshire County Central/South committee will hold its 2015 wrap-up on Thursday, September 24 at Monument Mountain Regional High School. The meeting will be held in the school library at 6 p.m. The meeting will encompass a review of the 2015 event and a discussion of new ideas for the 2016 Relay For Life scheduled for June 24 and June 25, 2016 on the high school’s track.  All teams and participants are welcome, as well as anyone who is wishing to start a new team or become involved.

For more information contact Jim Andersen at (413) 563-4227.

–E.E.

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Heritage walk: Mahaiwe Cemetery and newsboy statue

Great Barrington — On Saturday, September 26 at 10 a.m., author and historian Gary Leveille, archivist of the Great Barrington Historical Society, will lead a walk focusing on the “long-term guests” of the Mahaiwe Cemetery and the history of the nearby newsboy statue and fountain.

The walk will begin at the cemetery entrance on Silver St., is half a mile in length, and will last approximately 90 minutes. Contact the Historical Society for more information at (413) 591-8702.

–E.E.

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‘Spaces and Moments: Marcia Powdermaker and B. Docktor’

Spencertown, N.Y. — Spencertown Academy Arts Center presents “Spaces and Moments: Images by Marcia Powdermaker and B. Docktor,” a photography exhibition by the winners of last year’s Spencertown Academy juried regional art exhibition. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, September 26 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the show will remain on display through October 18.

Marcia Powdermaker lives in Tyringham. Her work has been exhibited at Spencertown Academy and Sohn Fine Art GalleryB. Docktor lives in Ancram, N.Y. She began her photography career by helping her father, illustrator/artist Irv Docktor, develop film when she was five years old.

Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free and the artworks are for sale.

–E.E.

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“Families in the Wild” at the Bidwell House Museum

Monterey – On Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Bidwell House Museum will offer outdoor adventures for parents and children ages 5 to 12. The “Families in the Wild” program will be led by Flying Deer Nature Center staff on the 192-acre grounds of the Bidwell House Museum. Children and their parents will explore the wonders of nature together, forage for wild edibles, play games, and create fire with ancient tools.

There is a fee of $30 for a parent and child, and $10 for an additional child. Advance reservations are necessary; call (413) 528-6888 or e-mail bidwellhouse@gmail.com

–E.E.

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