A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Berkshires region, including a music school gala; a solo show by a prominent painter; a concert by an Irish music legend; and an all-Beethoven program featuring pianist Peter Serkin.
Madalyn Parnas
VIOLINIST MADALYN PARNAS HEADLINES BERKSHIRE MUSIC SCHOOL 75TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Acclaimed violinist Madalyn Parnas is among a host of alumni and faculty who will take part in a gala concert at the Colonial Theatre to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Berkshire Music School on Sunday, April 3, at 4pm. A free day-long student Performathon will also take place on Saturday, April 9, from 9am to 6pm, in the Taft Recital Hall at Berkshire Music School. The gala concert at the Colonial featuring Parnas will be hosted by James Warwick, celebrated Broadway actor and stage director, and will include headline performances by BMS alumni Deborah Rentz-Moore, voice; Billy Keane, guitar and vocals; Kari Steinert, composer; and Ben Talmi, pianist/composer.
Joe Goodwin, ‘Vesica Pisces,’ acrylic on canvas on panel, 2015
SOLO SHOW of WORKS by JOE GOODWIN at BERKSHIRE MUSEUM
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Works by Berkshire artist Joe Goodwin go on view in the Ellen Crane Memorial Room at Berkshire Museum on Saturday, April 2, and will remain on display through Sunday, June 19, 2016. An opening reception for Liminal Artifacts: Recent Paintings by Joe Goodwin will be held on Saturday, April 2, from 5 to 7pm.
Paddy Keenan
BAGPIPE LEGEND PADDY KEENAN to PERFORM at CLARK ART INSTITUTE
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) — Irish bagpiper Paddy Keenan, the “Jimi Hendrix of the pipes,” performs in a cabaret setting at the Clark Art Institute on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 pm. Opening for Keenan is the Williamstown-based folk band Long Journey. Keenan was a founding member of the groundbreaking Irish group the Bothy Band.
Peter Serkin (photo Kathy Chapman)
PETER SERKIN and THE ORCHESTRA NOW in ALL-BEETHOVEN PROGRAM at SIMON’S ROCK
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) — Pianist Peter Serkin joins The Orchestra Now, under the direction of Leon Botstein, in an all-Beethoven program in the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s Rock College on Friday, April 1, at 7:30pm. The Bard College Chamber Singers and the Bard Festival Chorale will join The Orchestra Now for the Choral Fantasy. The orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – one of the most famous works in all of classical music. There will be a pre-concert discussion with maestro Botstein at 6:30pm.