Glimmerglass Festival names acclaimed American bass Kevin Burdette as 2026 Artist-in-Residence
Cooperstown, N.Y.— The Glimmerglass Festival has named acclaimed American bass Kevin Burdette as its 2026 Artist-in-Residence. Known for his comic brilliance, commanding voice, and captivating stage presence, Burdette will appear as Don Alfonso in the Festival’s new production of “Così,” anchoring a season that invites audiences to reflect on personal and national ideals. He will also work closely with members of the Festival’s Resident Artists Program, a training program for emerging artists.
Hailed by The New York Times as “the Robin Williams of opera,” Kevin Burdette has earned acclaim for his distinctive blend of humor, intelligence, and vocal mastery. An alumnus of the Juilliard Opera Theater and the University of Tennessee, Burdette is a former member of the Opéra National de Paris Young Artists’ Program and San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program.
He has performed with many of the world’s most prestigious opera companies and symphony orchestras, including Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Santa Fe Opera, Teatro Colón, Opéra de Montréal, Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra. Known for his dramatic characterizations, he has created over a dozen roles in world premieres and is regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of buffo repertoire in his generation.
Glimmerglass Festival Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley remarked: “We are honored to welcome Kevin Burdette as our 2026 Artist-in-Residence. His reputation as one of the field’s most beloved colleagues and his peerless artistry — rich in humor, heart, and humanity — embody everything Glimmerglass stands for: excellence, community, and connection.”
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Bard College’s Human Rights Project and Center for Curatorial Studies names artist and professor Carlos Motta as 2025-26 Keith Haring Chair in Art and Activism
Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.— Bard College’s Human Rights Project and Center for Curatorial Studies names multidisciplinary artist and professor Carlos Motta as the 2025-26 Keith Haring Chair in Art and Activism.
Established in 2014, the initiative supports an annual faculty position bringing leading scholars, activists, and artists to teach and conduct research within the CCS Bard graduate program and the undergraduate Human Rights Program. The endowed position represents Bard College and the Keith Haring Foundation’s long-standing commitment to advancing scholarship and creative practices at the intersection of art and social justice.
Motta’s art practice documents the social conditions and political struggles of sexual, gender, and ethnic minority communities. A chronicler of untold narratives, he explores the experiences of post-colonial subjects and societies through a range of media including video, installation, sculpture, drawing, web-based projects, performance, and symposia.
“Carlos Motta’s decades-long practice foregrounds art as a site of resistance and repair, expanding Keith Haring’s legacy of social engagement into the urgencies of the present. Through projects that bring together queer, trans, and decolonial perspectives across the Americas, Motta has consistently challenged the boundaries between artistic practice, research, and activism,” said Mariano López Seoane, Director of the Graduate Program and ISLAA Fellow in Latin American Art at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College. “His work invites critical reflection on visibility, power, and collective memory—values that deeply resonate with CCS Bard’s mission and the spirit of the Keith Haring Chair initiative.”
The announcement of the 2025-26 Keith Haring Chair in Art and Activism follows CCS Bard’s recent opening of a new 12,000-square-foot addition to its library and archives: the Keith Haring Wing, named in recognition of a $3 million gift from the Keith Haring Foundation.
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Berkshire Agricultural Ventures hires Kristen Moriarty as Development Director
Great Barrington— Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) has hired Kristen Moriarty as the nonprofit’s new Development Director, where she leads a multi-pronged fundraising effort, including cultivating and stewarding individual donors, orchestrating donor events, and overseeing BAV’s grant portfolio of private and corporate foundations.
Moriarty previously held leadership roles at Shakespeare & Company, serving as Senior Manager of Individual Giving and as Program Manager for the Center for Actor Training. She is a professional actor and an acting teacher as well as a development officer. Her background also includes event management, sales supervisory experience, and copywriting/content creation. She’s served four years as PTO President at Morris Elementary in Lenox.
“We are thrilled to have Kristen in this crucial role,” said Executive Director Rebecca Busansky. “Kristen brings a wealth of development expertise, extraordinary interpersonal and relationship-building skills, and a passion for creating more vibrant and resilient local communities. In addition, she has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has already brought leadership and thoughtfulness to these vital aspects of our work at BAV.”
Moriarty began her role at BAV earlier this fall. In tandem with her hiring, BAV added a Program and Development Associate to support development efforts and expand capacity for farmer-focused programming.
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Great Barrington candy store Robin’s Candy rebrands as Coco’s Candy
Great Barrington— The iconic candy shop at the center of Great Barrington has a new owner and a new name. Rebranded as Coco’s Candy, the beloved Main Street destination will continue to offer its signature blend of nostalgic treats and modern sweets, delighting locals, seasonal residents, and visitors alike.
Coco’s Candy will remain in the same location that has been a destination for candy lovers for years. The new ownership is committed to preserving the whimsical spirit and community connection that made the shop a local favorite, while introducing fresh touches and new confections for all ages to discover and enjoy.
“Our goal is to continue being a joyful part of the community—a place where families, friends, and visitors can experience the nostalgia of childhood favorites and discover something new,” said Elise Contarsy, owner of Coco’s Candy. “We’re honored to carry on the sweet tradition at the center of Great Barrington.”
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WAM launches new education program
Lenox— WAM has announced the launch of a new education program. Artistic Director Genée Coreno and Teaching Artist Malia’Kekia Nicolini presented and beta-tested the new Ballot Ballad curriculum at Tanglewood during the BERK12 County-Wide Professional Development Day.
Thirteen educators were introduced to a full lesson, sharing WAM’s mission and exploring ways to bring our civic engagement programming into classrooms. Participants listened to Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb,” imagined four new amendments ranging from term limits to teacher-led curriculum and pathways for Dreamers, and then created collaborative performance pieces. The session culminated in a powerful collective presentation of shared beliefs.
Those interested in bringing Ballot Ballad to their school, student group or classroom, can email info@wamtheatre.com for more information.
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Berkshires Jazz, Inc. launches workshop series for Berkshire County middle and high schools
Pittsfield— Berkshires Jazz, Inc. has announced a series of three workshops aimed at expanding opportunities for youth to advance their skills in improvisation and ensemble work. An additional objective of the new program is to bolster the legacy that jazz and jazz education have enjoyed in the region since the late 1950s.
Student musicians from five Berkshire County middle and high schools will be attending the program developed by the Berkshires Jazz education committee and spearheaded by Board member Peter Lazes. The lead clinician is John Mastroianni, Assistant Professor in Residence of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut, and founder and director of the Young Artist Summer Jazz Workshop.
With school budgets always under pressure, particularly in so-called “optional” activities such as sports and the arts, Berkshires Jazz, Inc. has stepped in to develop this new program. The in-depth, hands-on workshops will expand opportunities for youth to appreciate and enjoy playing in ensembles and encourage others to see practical use of listening, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. This project has also been designed to strengthen collaborative work among schools in the community. Currently, there aren’t resources to provide music students –particularly those studying jazz- with coaching and access to professional musicians.
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MountainOne donates $25,000 to local organizations providing food and fuel assistance
North Adams— MountainOne had announced that it will donate $25,000 to local community organizations across Berkshire County to assist with combating food insecurity and providing winter fuel assistance.
This financial commitment arrives at a moment when many local partners are seeing record need. Rising fuel costs have pushed many households to the edge and increasing demand at food pantries has led to strained resources. MountainOne is stepping in with funding that will help keep homes warm and ensure families have access to healthy meals.
Berkshire County food pantries recipients include Thanksgiving Angels, Inc., Berkshire Grown, Inc., Berkshire Food Project, Inc., Al Nelson Food Pantry, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. MountainOne also directed a $10,000 donation for fuel assistance to the Pittsfield Area Council of Congregations (PACC) Hearth and Home Fuel Fund.
In addition to these donations, MountainOne is proud of the work being done by its employees. MountainOne Cares, an employee-led group, held a special Thanksgiving Basket raffle to raise employee donations and hosted local canned food drives for employees and customers across all locations. Proceeds from the raffle and items collected at the food drives will be donated to seven different food pantries across our communities.
