Musicians Archive

WFCR Seeks Nominations for the 2010 WFCR Arts & Humanities Award

Published: January 27, 2010Posted in: FEATURES 1, LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETIN, OPPORTUNITIESTags: , , , , , , ,
WFCR Seeks Nominations for the 2010 WFCR Arts & Humanities Award

Public radio stations WFCR and 640AM WNNZ will be accepting nominations for the 2010 WFCR Arts & Humanities Award. The award was established in 2008 to recognize those who have made a positive impact on the arts and humanities, and to bring awareness to the critical role played by musicians, artists, dancers, actors, writers, and teachers in western New England. This year, the award will be given in three categories: Outstanding Organization, Outstanding Individual, and Emerging Talent.

“WFCR is excited to expand the WFCR Arts & Humanities Award to three distinct categories,” said General Manager, Martin Miller. “It is our hope that the community will be as enthusiastic this year to nominate those individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the cultural life we enjoy here in western New England.”

The WFCR Foundation, Inc. will review all nominations and select a recipient in each category in early February. The recipients of the 2010 Arts & Humanities Award will be celebrated at a special dinner and award ceremony on May 4, 2010 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

The inaugural Arts & Humanities Award was presented to Kevin Rhodes, Music Director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in May 2009.  Mr. Rhodes was honored in recognition of his many years spent sharing his love for classical music with a multitude of audiences both as music director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and through his work with local schools and music organizations.

The community is invited to submit nominations for the WFCR Arts and Humanities Award using the form available at wfcr.org. All nominations must be received by January 31, 2010.

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Local Creative Uses Crowdfunding Site Kickstarter.org to Fund Publishing of 15 year Retrospective of Design

Published: December 18, 2009Posted in: FEATURES 1, FOR PROFIT RESOURCES, LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETIN, NON PROFIT RESOURCES, RESOURCES, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Local Creative Uses Crowdfunding Site Kickstarter.org to Fund Publishing of 15 year Retrospective of Design

In September 2009, local photographer and Studio Two Creative Director, Kevin Sprague began a campaign to fund the production of “Imagining Shakespeare”- a comprehensive look at 15 years of his award-winning photography, design, and imaging work for Shakespeare & CO. On December 15, Kevin successfully completed his campaign, raising over $15,000, and he did it all with Kickstarter.

Kevin says “Kickstarter was a great tool to put this kind of project together and make it possible.” So what exactly is it? Kickstarter is a web-based ‘crowdfunding’ platform, launched in Spring of 2009, “for artists, writers, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, athletes, adventurers, inventors, bloggers, comic book creators, explorers, curators, promoters, performers, and lots of others.” Kickstarter is part of the growing community of crowdfunding websites, like artistshare.com, kickstart.org, and kiva.org, applying a fresh perspective and web 2.0 technology to age old funding scenarios.   Kickstarter also seems to work best in conjunction with other web 2.0 promotion. “I found twitter and facebook great tools to both get my invitation and promote the project throughout the 90 day cycle” Kevin states, “that being said, it is a new service, and has a few bumps in the system, including an occasionally difficult-to-navigate pledging system.” Currently, creation of a project on Kickstarter is by invitation only, which Kevin indicates “are few and far between and available from people with current, active projects.” Still, Kickstarter may be the resource you are looking for, for your creative, innovative endeavors. Kevin says “It was a lot of work, but very heartening to see people from near and far come out to support my ideas.”

Click here to learn more about Kickstarter, how it works and how to request an invitation!

SPARKLE! SNEAK PEEK….

Published: November 25, 2009Posted in: BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, EVENTS, FEATURES 1, HAPPENINGS + EVENTS, LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags: , , , , , ,
SPARKLE! SNEAK PEEK….

Thanksgiving has come and gone!

The infamous holiday shopping season is upon us!

Wouldn’t it be better to get your unique holiday gifts

while enjoying delectable treats,

refreshing bevies,

great music and great people?

Heck yeah it would be!

CLICK HERE TO BUY OR RESERVE YOUR TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE!

*To RSVP and pay at the door click “Show other payments options” under the “Order Now” button on our Eventbrite site!

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At SPARKLE! you can get unique Berkshire items and services for yourself, your friends and for your family!

SPARKLE! features both a silent and a chance auction, so there is something for everyone!

All SPARKLE! attendees will receive a special gift Blue Q, Pittsfield based designer and manufacturer of life altering gifts since 1988!

After the event, visit our amazing participating creative economy businesses for your holiday gift getting!

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Here is a sneak peek of SPARKLE! silent and chance auction items from some of the Berkshires best creatives and creative economy businesses…

Berkshire International Film Festival

Be a star with this BIFF weekend package which includes a pair of tickets to the BIFF 5th Anniversary Opening Night Film at the Mahaiwe Theater, June 3, 2010 and a pair of tickets to the Tribute Evening at the Mahaiwe on June 4, 2010.

Berkshire Mountain Distillers

Share the gift of holiday cheer with a 3 bottle selection from Berkshire Mountain Distillers featuring Greylock Gin, Ice Glen Vodka and Ragged Mountain Rum.

Berkshire Museum

Experience the Berkshire Museum with Executive Director, Stuart Chase with this collection tour for six (6). Then keep coming back with a one year family membership and two free passes to the Festival of Trees, on view to January 3, 2010.

Berkshire Organics

Experience the goodness of organic with this with Berkshire Organics, Organic Foods Gift Basket.

Blue Q

Enjoy a Willy Wonka-style tour of world renowned, Pittsfield based designer and manufacturer of life altering gifts since 1988, Blue Q! You and three guests of your choice, will meet Blue Q’s maniacal owners Mitch and Seth Nash, see how an idea becomes a product, tell off a mean, unreasonable customer and much more! Take the experience home with Blue Q goodie bags for all!

Bola Granola

A goodie box of locally made BOLA granola related items…BOLA granola 1# bags, a bowl and spoon, related snacks and breakfast treats!!!

Day with Nancy Fitzpatrick of The Red Lion Inn

Spend a day working with renowned hotelier, Nancy Fitzpatrick as she goes through the daily meetings, workings, communications, humor and bus-I-ness of The Red Lion Inn!

FaceHaven

Experience a Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics consulation with three friends at FaceHaven. Get %15 off any purchase made that day.

Hancock Shaker Village

A Family Membership to Hancock Shaker Village, including free admission for one year for two adults plus household children. Also includes discounts at the Village Store and on workshops and Shaker Suppers. This package also includes items from the Hancock Shaker Village Store.

Kripalu

Refresh and Renew with a Kriaplu Day Pass! Make it a full day with Retreat & Renewal yoga classes and educational workshops, use of sauna, whirlpool, Fitness Room, walking and hiking trails, a buffet lunch and dinner and other facility amenities.

Minc House

Check out the Minc House empire with this Minc-tastic Basket featuring a$25 gift certificate to Mission Bar + Tapas, a $25 gift certificate to The Market, and a hand-printed, locally designed ‘Shire’ t-shirt and hand-printed scarf.

Re-think Your Outdoor Space with Selina Lamb, Ltd., LLC

Rethink your landscape with this one-hour on-site consultation with noted landscape designer Selina Lamb. Ecologically sensitive solutions. Can’t decide where to put that swimming pool you’ve always wanted? Concerned about wetlands? Want to develop a woodland garden or site and construct a pond? Or simply site and design new gardens? A design consultation can set you well on your way to solving problems, designing resonant and engaging outdoor areas and selecting appropriate materials and plants for your home.

Escape with these Micro-Staycations!

Adams Micro-Staycation with MCLA Presents and Topia Inn

Experience MCLA Presents! Annual Blues and Funk Festival, featuring Slavic Soul Party and Big Sam’s Funky Nation. Save yourself a drive, and spend the night at the eco-friendly Topia Inn.

Becket Escape with DreamAway Lodge and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Escape to the woods of Becket for great food and dance! Enjoy a delicious dinner at the legendary DreamAway Lodge with this $75 Gift Certificate and then mosey on down to the world renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, for a performance at the renowned  Ted Shawn Theatre.

Great Barrington Micro-Staycation with Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and Castle Street Cafe I

Enjoy two tickets to see Grammy Award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo on February 7, 2009 at the amazing Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center! This legendary acappella group represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country’s cultural emissary at home and around the world. They have recorded with numerous artists, including Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, and Dolly Parton.

Before the show, enjoy the award winning culinary delights of one of the Berkshire’s most renowned restaurants with a Castle Street Cafe gift Certificate!

Lenox Micro-Staycation with Shakespeare & Company and Seven Hills Inn

Escape to Lenox for an overnight at Seven Hills Inn, one of the famous Berkshire Manor Houses, with this $250 voucher. Indulge in a little theatre, just down the road with a gift vouchers, good for two tickets to any remaining production in Shakespeare & Company’s 2009-2010 season: Cindy Bella (or The Glass Slipper) (general admission), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (A section), or Pericles presented by the Conservatory at Shakespeare & Company (general admission).

North Adams Micro-Staycation with MASS MoCA and the Porches Inn

Head for the mountains and get some art while you’re there! Enjoy two complimentary passes to MASS MoCA and an overnight at the acclaimed Porches Inn. Explore MASS MoCA’s gallery then take a dip in Porches heated pool or outdoor hot tub, and wake in the morning to complimentary continental breakfast!

Pittsfield’s Performance Renaissance with Barrington Stage Company and The Colonial Theatre

Discover the award winning performance venues of Pittsfield with

  • Two (2)tickets to Barrington Stage’s 2010 Summer Season Main Stage.
  • Two (2) tickets to the Colonial’s Musical Canadian Brass-an outstanding group which blends world-class virtuosity with spontaneity, precision choreography and humor to the delight of sold-out audiences worldwide!

Come to SPARKLE! to discover our other auction items from….

*Some restrictions may apply to auction items

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Look for items from our friends at BerkshireMade!
Look for items from our friends at BerkshireMade!

Alchemy Initiative

ALJ Designs

The Art of Wellness Massage Therapy

Benchmark Real Estate

Bisque, Beads & Beyond*

Blantyre

Blueline Design

The Clark

Crane & Co.

Daniel Bellow Pottery*

Stephanie Gravalese-Wood, Atomswork*

Hotchkiss Mobiles

Inn at Richmond

Kinesphere Studio

Donna Kittredge

Eric Korenman, Photographer

Laurie Coyle Designs*

Limited Editions by Dawn*

Lisa Anderson Jewelry

Michael Wainwright

Norman Rockwell Museum

Novel Idea Book Purse*

Michele O’Hana, Ha’ Penny Design

Museum Facsimiles

Olive Designs

River Hill Pottery

Peter Alvarez Salon

The Puddle People Design Studio*

Scott Olsen, The Puzzle Guy*

Evan Soldinger and Linda Kaye-Moses

Tanglewood

“what if i just…”

BerkshireMade Member*

All proceeds from SPARKLE! help insure the continuation of Berkshire Creative’s various programs and initiatives, including SPARK!, the BeCreative BarCamp, the Creative Challenge, and berkshirecreative.org.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!

Berkshire Based Musicians Contribute to Major Motion Picture Score

Published: October 16, 2009Posted in: FEATURES 1, LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags: , , ,
Berkshire Based Musicians Contribute to Major Motion Picture Score

Yesterday, Bright Star, a new biopic of poet John Keats opened. Jane Campion’s time capsule of the Regency Era includes music from The Regency Ballroom, the most recent recording by Berkshire musicians Liz Stell, Bill Matthiesen and Eric Buddington. This trio of flute, violin and piano, performing as Spare Parts, is one of the country’s foremost period dance ensembles and travels throughout the U.S. to play for contra dances as well as historic reenactments of formal balls. Repertoire ranges from 17th-century Playford dances through Victorian and Gilded Age balls to pre-World War I ragtime dances. Argentine tangos, milongas and vals are another passion of these versatile musicians.

Lanesborough residents Stell and Matthiesen have performed and researched historic dance music for over 20 years. They became interested in period music through social dance (“vintage” dance). Stell and Matthiesen recorded ragtime dance music (including early Argentinean and American tangos) on their 1994 Now Tango CD. The Civil War Ballroom CD followed in 1997, with a companion volume of sheet music for reenactors (The Civil War Ballroom Band Book) in 2005. Dancing by the Shore: Victorian Music from Nahant (1998) was recorded as a benefit for the Nahant (MA) Historical Society. Matthiesen recorded a solo piano CD of early Argentinean tangos, Tango Viejo; he has performed this repertoire at venues including the Troy Music Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. With Mel Bay, Matthiesen published two volumes of historic sheet music: Argentinean Tangos for Keyboard (a selection by the most outstanding composers of the guardia vieja) and Habaneras, Maxixes & Tangos: The syncopated piano music of Latin America (works illustrating the roots of tango through its most popular rhythm, known as habanera). Matthiesen edited and published three volumes of traditional and contemporary waltzes, known as The Waltz Books. These have sold over 30,000 copies since first volume was released in 1992.

Buddington is a talented violinist from North Adams. He joins Spare Parts for period dances of all eras. Buddington performs regularly with other musicians, including the medieval ensemble Woodbinde and the contra dance band Coincidance.

The early 1800s, known as the Regency Era in England, is well known to fans of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and Patrick O’Brien (whose works were popularized in the movie Master and Commander.) Stell and Matthiesen worked with dance historian Susan de Guardiola of New Haven, CT, to develop historically accurate repertoire. Ms. de Guardiola teaches Regency Era dances and steps, as well as dances from other eras. She works with Spare Parts to present a Regency Ball every October in New Haven. The melodies recorded on The Regency Ballroom were tested and refined at these period events, contributing to the dance lilt that can be heard in the recording.

Click here to learn more about and here selections from The Regency Ballroom!

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Pittsfield City Jazz Festival-Education and Collaboration

Published: September 22, 2009Posted in: FEATURES 1, LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags: , , , , , , , ,
Pittsfield City Jazz Festival-Education and Collaboration

The Pittsfield City Jazz Festival was formed in 2005 to present mainstream and traditional jazz in a downtown setting. Over its first four years, the festival has presented such headline talent as NEA Jazz Masters Billy Taylor and Phil Woods; up-and-coming artists such as Grace Kelly; individual standouts such as TS Monk, Jr., Claire Daly, Peggy Stern, Winard Harper and Barbara Dennerlein.

An annual highlight of the  festival is Jazz In Schools, which features in school  performances, demonstrations, and discussions groups featuring  both local Jazz musicians  and leading guest artists, such as Frank Vignola. Jazz In Schools engages students in multi-disciplinary activities around Jazz, including a poster contest andculminates with Berkshire County students, performing with the festivals headliners, such as the Dave Brubeck Quartet, who will performing with students at the Colonial this fall.

The festival also presents Jazz About Town, featuring local musicians in restaurants across the city of Pittsfield. Throughout the festivals 4 year run, dozens of venues have featured all genres of instrumental and vocal jazz, all at no cover,  resulting in increased patronage at participating venues.  A fundraising concert, held earlier this summer. alone drew over 350 people to downtown Pittsfield.

In an effort to keep prices at an accessible level, the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival has successfully partnered with several local, regional, and national organizations to underwrite various components. Starting with Legacy Banks in 2005, sponsors have included Greylock Marketing Group, TD Banknorth, The Red Lion Inn, Time Warner Cable, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, MTV/Nickelodeon, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Pittsfield Cultural Council. Local merchants have provided thousands of dollars in in-kind services such as Lenox Softworks, ReadWebCo, The Berkshire Eagle, Aldam Press and Wood Brothers.

Click here to learn more about the Pittsfield City Jazz Festival!

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Kickstarter-Innovative Funding for the Next Generation

Published: August 28, 2009Posted in: FEATURES 1, FOR PROFIT RESOURCES, NATIONAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETIN, NON PROFIT RESOURCES, RESOURCESTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kickstarter-Innovative Funding for the Next Generation

Kickstarter is a four month old  “online community designed to help artists, musicians, athletes, inventors, and filmmakers raise small sums of money from a large number of patrons to help them fund their projects.” What some are calling, “crowdfunding.”

Kickstarter CTO, Andy Baio describes the format as follows “a project creator sets a fundraising goal, deadline, and an optional set of rewards for backers. If the goal’s reached by the deadline, then everyone’s charged via Amazon Payments and the backers get their goodies. If the goal’s not reached, nobody’s charged. It’s all or nothing.” Baio also writes on Waxy.org, “Since our launch ten weeks ago, over $250,000 has been pledged to make everything from books, magazines, albums (and album reissues), plays, films, art projects, zombie iPhone apps, and more.” Kickstarter also offers “publishing tools, where creators can post project updates with audio and video, either publicly or for backers only.”

Baio,who proposed at the Guardian Activate Summit in London that “the power of play and applying game mechanics to non-games — difficult problems like environmental change, political activism, and fundraising” states that the format of  “Kickstarter turns fundraising into a social game, where people have to work together within a time limit to reach a common goal. Already, we’re seeing that projects develop their own viral momentum… Once a project hits 25% of its goal, success is almost guaranteed.”

At this point anyone may back a project, but in order to create your own, you need  an invite. Click here to learn how to get an invite!

Click here visit kickstarter.com or  read more about Kickstarter at inc.com, waxy.org, and nytimes.com*!

*Please note that the New York Times article states that Kickstarter pledges are not tax deductible. Some pledges are tax deductible: if the project creator is a 501c3 that is registered as such with Amazon Payments, pledges would be deductible. It’s up to each eligible project to handle.

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Word X Word Festival-Written Spoken Sung

Published: August 10, 2009Posted in: ARCHIVES, FEATURES 1, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVE, LOCAL NEWSTags: , , , , , , , ,
Word X Word Festival-Written Spoken Sung

August 17, 2009-August 22, 2009

Word X Word is a one week, multi venue festival celebrating the performed word. The events, which will be held at Mission Bar +Tappas, Barrington Stage Company Stage 2 and Zeitgeist Gallery Space, will feature both local and non-local poets, authors, songwriters, playwrights, actors, comedians, spoken word artists, bloggers and more.

Click here to visit the website and learn more!

411 in the 413

Published: May 8, 2009Posted in: ARCHIVES, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags: , , , , , ,

youth-conference-logoTonight, after the third 411 in the 413: Annual Youth Development Conference, Berkshire Creatives of all ages will celebrate a night creativity in the 413.

411 in the 413: What’s There to do Around Here?

Friday, May 8th, 2009, 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Hancock Shaker Village, Round Barn

$5.00 at the door, Free to conference Attendees

Everyone is invited, from music lovers to musicians who want to get themselves out there with the chance to meet people who share similar ideas and interests in the arts of the 413. Attending bands, artists, dancers, and production companies include Higher Organix, Twisting Karma, The Aposoul, Youth Alive, Eli Catlin, Reason837, Checker Chance, The Interlopers, Space Jam, Rulliance Productions and Soultube Music. Click here for more information!

This event is brought to Berkshire County by Unity, Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, Railroad Street Youth Project and BYDP.

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Connect with Berkshire Bands

Published: December 26, 2008Posted in: LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags: , , ,

l_8ff6c1f46bc9b537134f0dcaf26d38d2Berkshire County is brimming with amazing musical talent, and thanks to the Berkshire Eagle, you can now easily tap into this local resource.

Whether you are business owner who would like the added value of live music at your establishment or maybe an individual or organization planning a special event, you can find the right musician at berkshireeagle.com/bands.

The Berkshire Eagle’s Berkshire Band site is searchable by genre, and links you with each performers contact information and website. Musicians are listed by the following genres Blues, Folk/Acoustic, Jazz, Rap, Rock and Other.

Musicians interested in becoming part of the Berkshire Bands directory, please send listing information, photo and link to your website to: lchaput@berkshireeagle.com.

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