THE HEVREH ENSEMBLE
ORIGINAL WORLD CHAMBER MUSIC
On Thursday July 22 at 8 PM, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire will present a Gala Fundraiser Concert featuring The Hevreh Ensemble; a group that performs original World Chamber Music by group member and composer, Jeff Adler. The members of the ensemble are Jeff Adler- Composer, Bass Clarinet, Native American Flutes & Percussion; Judith Dansker- Oboe, Oboe D’amore, English Horn & Native American Flutes; Laurie Friedman- Clarinet, Native American Flutes and Percussion; Adam Morrison- Keyboard. The Hevreh Ensemble was formed in 2001 when oboist Judith Dansker invited a group of acclaimed musicians to perform a special Selichot concert for Hevreh of Southern Berkshire in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Based in New York City, the members have performed concerts at such venues as: the National Yiddish Book Center- Amherst, Massachusetts, The Northampton Center for the Arts, Arizona Jewish Historical Society, The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, Harlem School of the Arts, New York City, Synagogue for the Arts, New York City among many others and are currently Ensemble in Residence for Hevreh of Southern Berkshire. The members of the ensemble have honored by and affiliated with organizations such as: The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center), Carnegie Recital Hall, The Library of Congress (Washington, DC), Merkin concert Hall (New York City), The Blossom Music Festival-Cleveland Orchestra and Hofstra University, among many others. Hevreh Ensemble performances have been called “spiritually uplifting” and: “strikingly original”. The ensemble will travel to Eastern Europe in September 2010, where they will present concerts in Prague and Poland. They have also recently been invited to present concerts for the Segal Centre in Montreal and are currently planning a collaboration with the Brooklyn College Academy in New York, where they will present concert and workshops for students from the BCA World Ensemble. They have also been invited to present concerts for the Hofstra University Emily Lowe Art Gallery in conjunction with two upcoming art exhibits: “Soweto” The 30th Anniversary of the Uprising” and an exhibit by Holocaust survivor and painter Yonia Fain. Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road, Great Barrington, MA. http://hevrehensemble.com, hevrehmusic@gmail.com. Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at door. Reservations: 413-528-6378.
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THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2010
CONCERTS AT TANNERY POND
Twenty years ago, Tannery Pond Concerts had its inaugural season in the beautiful wooden post and beam Shaker building, once a tannery, where we have been ever since. That season was emblematic of the aim of our artistic director, Christian Steiner, to present young talent working to establish a performing career as well as to bring established world-class performers to our community. The very first Tannery concert featured the 21-year-old violinist Chee-Yun and pianist and famed chamber music promoter Charles Wadsworth. Chee-Yun had just won a competition sponsored by the Young Concert Artists; over the years since, she has become a sought-after violinist who has performed with the world’s major orchestras. Many of the young performers who have appeared at the Tannery have gone on to similar success, helped early in their career by the chance to perform at respected venues like Tannery that recognize and encourage burgeoning great talent. And though that concert did not sell out, others that season did, including the performances of the already famous Jessye Norman and the Emerson String Quartet. The performers who have filled the Tannery these last 20 years are exceptional and read like a who’s who in the classical music hall of fame: Midori, Gil Shaham, Jaime Laredo, Jeremy Denk, Maria Joao Pires, Stephen Hough, Richard Goode, Roberto Diaz, Carter Brey, Christopher O’Riley, David Finckel, Christine Brewer, Ben Heppner, Susan Graham, Maureen O’Flynn, Todd Palmer, Paula Robison, the Borromeao, Emerson, Lark and St. Lawrence String Quartets to name but a very few. This summer, we also a program of wonderful musicians; Brentano String Quartet, Paula Robison, Romero Lubambo & Cyro Baptista Trio, Jeremy Denk, Kirill Gerstein, Vivica Genaux & Craig Rutenberg, Jennifer Frautschi, Eric Rusk, & Pedja Muzijevic, and to end our season on September 25th, Alon Goldstein with actors, Robert Mackenzie, Markus Hirnigel & Stephanie Schmiederer. Located on the grounds of Darrow School, New Lebanon, NY. For detail information, please go to www.tannerypondconcerts.org and/or 888-820-1696.
THE MUSIC STORE
As the Berkshires’ summer symphony begins, we at the Music Store celebrate our second summer in our new location, at the end of the Railroad Street extension in Great Barrington. Acclaimed as one of the area’s best music stores, The Music Store specializes in fine, folk and unusual musical instruments, accessories, supplies and music motif gifts. The Music Store offers music lovers and musicians of all ages and abilities a myriad of musical merchandise that will help them illuminate the longest winter night and enliven the shortest day. Music lovers and professional and amateur musicians alike will find an exciting array of both new and used name-brand and hand-made instruments, extraordinary folk instruments and one of the Northeast’s finest selections of strings and reeds. Music Store customers enjoy fine luthier handmade classical guitars, the peerless Irish Avalon steel string guitars, the brand new Baden Pantheon USA guitars as well as the handmade Badens including the USA Handmade Bourgeois/Pantheon Baden and guitars from other fine lines including Avalon, Rainsong and Takamine, as well as Alvarez, and Luna and from designers including Greg Bennett. Acoustic and electric guitars from entry to professional level instruments are available. Famous names including consignment Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch and Fender guitars and basses join less-well known brands which appeal to those seeking high quality but are on tight budgets, providing any guitarist a tempting cornucopia of playing possibilities. A wide variety of Ukuleles (including the Connecticut made Flues and Fleas) join banjos, mandolins and dulcimers as well. Unusual instruments are also available, including the Connecticut-made Fluke and Flea Ukeleles and the peerless and lovely Stockbridge-made Serenity bamboo and walking stick flutes. New and used student orchestral and band instruments are available, including violins from $159 to $3000. An extensive array of international strings and reeds provides choices for the newest student to the symphony performer. Children’s instruments, as well as a fine line of international percussion including middle eastern and hand made African instruments along with many choices of industry standard drums, stands, heads and sticks, as well as tuners, forks and metronomes can be found as well. All new instruments are backed by The Music Store’s lifetime warranty which provides free set-up and adjustments on any new instrument sold. For repair and restoration and maintenance of fine stringed instruments - guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like - The Music Store’s repair shop offers expert luthiery at reasonable prices on instruments of all levels, as well as authorized repairs on Warwick Basses, and Lowden and Takamine guitars. Those in search of the perfect present for music lovers will find a treasure trove of gift favorites such as bumper stickers (“Driver Singing,” “Go Home and Practice,” Tune it or Die” and more), tee shirts, caps, scarves, miniature musical instruments and instrument magnets, nightshirts, music motif mugs, socks, totes and ties. Small bronze and metal musician statues and cuddly ‘Music Lover’ stuffed animals, whistle pops and earrings add additional possibilities to gift giving customers. A proud server of the community for over nine years, The Music Store’s warm and friendly staff are available for help in tuning, stringing or instrument repair. Help in choosing tuners, capos, mutes shoulder rests and strings is as happily given as help in selecting instruments themselves. Since our mission is to support and encourage our musical community, consultation and advice are always free. Professional musicians seeking the finest or unusual strings or accessories are welcome to call in advance. We will make every effort to satisfy the need!For capos to kazoos, guiros to congas, rainsticks to violins, bows to bodhrans, mandolins to ukeleles, strings to reeds and rods, sticks and earphones to microphones and stands, local artist’s CDs and harmonicas to picture frames and scarves, music motif ornaments and more. The Music Store, 87 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 to 6, and on Sundays from 12 to 5. Call 413-528-2460 or email us at musicstr@bcn.net. And look for us on Facebook at The Music Store Plus for special tips and events!