Bits & Bytes: Stand Out for Immigrants; Simon’s Rock faculty concert; CoA luncheon; local skaters to participate in Bay State Games; STEM Starter Academy open house

Stand Out for Immigrants

Pittsfield — The nonpartisan Berkshires-based Four Freedoms Coalition is organizing a peaceful stand out to take place at Park Square on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. in support of immigrants and against the Trump administration’s recent moves to punish Sanctuary Cities, build a multibillion dollar wall across the U.S./Mexico border, and persecute undocumented immigrants. The event is one of hundreds of protests organized across the country including a large one in New York City last night, a rally in Springfield Friday, and many others.

Participants are encouraged to bring signs – but signposts are not allowed – and attendees are asked to stay on the sidewalks. For more information, contact 4freedomscoalition@gmail.com.

–E.E.

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Simon’s Rock faculty trio to perform chamber music concert

Great Barrington — On Sunday, Jan. 29, the Bard College at Simon’s Rock Faculty Recital Series will offer a performance of chamber music by faculty members violinist Ronald Gorevic, cellist Anne Legêne, and pianist Larry Wallach at 3 p.m. in the Kellogg Music Center. The program will consist of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Fauré and Ravel. The concert is free and open to the public.

Gorevic has had a long and distinguished career as a teacher and performer on both the violin and viola. As a violinist, Gorevic has given many recitals to critical acclaim throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has been heard on radio stations across the U.S., and has also been broadcast on German and Australian radio. As a violist, he has been a member of several well-known string quartets spanning over 20 years and covering most of the quartet repertoire.

Legêne studied cello at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, Netherlands, and received a graduate performance diploma in early music from the Longy School of Music where she studied viola da gamba with Jane Hershey and Baroque cello with Phoebe Carrai. She has played with Les Inégales, Crescendo, the Berkshire Bach Society, and with the Baroque orchestra Foundling. She conducts the chamber orchestra and teaches cello at Simon’s Rock. She is a member of the board of the Viola da Gamba Society of New England and a member of Arcadia Viols.

Wallach is the Livingston Hall Chair in Music at Simon’s Rock and is a performer, composer, musicologist and educator whose interests span the history of Western music up to the present day. He has published articles about Charles Ives and Johannes Brahms and, as a pianist, has performed all the Ives violin sonatas. He is a founding board member of the Berkshire Bach Society. His compositions have been performed in New York, New England, Texas, California and elsewhere. His latest work, Berkshire Rhapsody for Orchestra, will be premiered in Milford in April.

For more information, call (413) 528-7212.

–E.E.

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Councils on Aging to hold luncheon

South Egremont — On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Egremont and Mt. Washington Councils on Aging will hold a free lunch and program at noon at the Egremont Village Inn.

The featured speaker will be Mt. Washington resident Nancy Wright, who will give a talk titled ”The American Art Form of Quilting,” with support from Catherine Kane of Brookside Quiltworks, which will inform and entertain with the history and evolution of quilting in America. Lunch will be a choice of soups and sandwiches from the Great Barrington Bagel Company and Deli.

To reserve seats, contact the Egremont Town Hall at (413) 528-0182 x17 or wbrinker@egremont-ma.gov and specify any dietary restrictions and whether or not a ride is needed.

–E.E.

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Local skaters to participate in Bay State Winter Games

Williamstown — Twelve members of the Pittsfield Figure Skating Club will participate in the 33^rd Bay State Winter Games on Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Chapman Skating Rink at Williams College. The participants are Aimee Boulais, Takiera Darrow, Madison Quinn, Brianna Palmieri and Daniella Santamarina of Pittsfield; Katie Malone-Smith of Hinsdale; Dakota Marquis, Sophia Mele and Alayna Schwarzer of Lanesborough; Hannah Masiero and Anna Rawson of Richmond; and Rebecca Drager of Dalton. In order to compete in the Games, participants must be full-time students and Massachusetts residents as well as registered members of a Massachusetts figure skating club. A week later, on Sunday, Feb. 5, the Pittsfield Figure Skating Club will hold its own Learn to Skate competition at 11 a.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires in Pittsfield.

–E.E.

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BCC to hold STEM Starter Academy open house

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College will hold an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its 2017 STEM Starter Academy, which aims to recruit, engage, retain and move forward students who are planning to enroll in science, technology, engineering and math programs. There are 35 openings for the fall 2017 semester.

The event will allow students to participate in hands-on STEM activities, meet professors and tour the campus with STEM scholars. Breakfast will be provided. Those who wish to attend are asked to register by Saturday, Jan. 28, by calling (413) 236-4740.

–E.E.