music

The Beloved Community Youth Choir Begins on September 24

by mary@stmichaelsvermont.org | Music

BRATTLEBORO St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Rector The Rev. Mary Lindquist has announced that “the St. Michael’s Choir School, which our previous music director Susan Dedell started in 2014 and ran until the pandemic, is coming back this fall, although with a new name and new focus.

“This children’s choral program sponsored by St. Michael’s, now named Beloved Community Youth Choir, aims to develop both social and musical skills in youth by using music to instill the practices of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence.”

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Seeks New Singers!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to sing with us in an Open Rehearsal tomorrow, September 14th. Come join in the singing in person on Thursday mornings or evenings, or virtually on Friday mornings (just for the month of October). This Open Rehearsal is for to new singers to come and check out the chorus to see if it is a good fit for them. Advance registration is required for all singers via our website.

The Chorus welcomes anyone ages 10 and up who identifies as female or non-binary, and whose vocal range comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff. All abilities are welcome and no auditions are required. 

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Concerts This Weekend

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus presents their 27th annual spring concerts, “Sweet are the Days,” on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 at 4 pm outside at the Retreat Farm. Sunday’s concert will also be live streamed via Zoom.

Directed by founder and musical director Becky Graber, the spring concert features an eclectic program of soulful songs. Selections include compositions by Floridian singer/songwriter Velma Frye and former Brattleboro resident Susan Kisslinger; the haunting Estonian piece, “Mis on inimene?” (in English, “What is human?”); and a beautiful rendition of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s well-known song, “In My Life.” Local writer Karen Hesse and conductor Becky Graber collaborated to create “Granny and Bean,” a tale of an adventurous day by the sea. And the chorus will sing the opening of “Let Time Be Your Friend,” a piece composed by Diane White-Clayton as part of the Black Lives Matter Commissioning Project. The Chorus will sing the full piece with soloist Samirah Evans in our spring 2024 concert.

Underground System to Open Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series at Cooper Field in Putney on Friday, May 19

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts is pleased to announce that the Bandwagon Summer Series will kick off on Friday, May 19 at 6pm with a performance by the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band, Underground System. The concert will take place at Cooper Field in Putney, and will be co-presented with the Stone Church.

“We’re thrilled to have Underground System kick off the Bandwagon Summer Series,” said Next Stage Arts Executive Director Keith Marks. “They’re an incredible band that’s known for their infectious grooves and high-energy performances, and we’re confident that they’ll get the crowd moving and set the tone for what promises to be an amazing series of concerts.”

Underground System is a Brooklyn-based band that draws on a diverse array of influences, including afrobeat, funk, and dance music. Known for their high-energy performances and infectious grooves, the band has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the scene.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Seeks New Singers!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new singers to sing with us on March 16 or 17. Come join in the singing either in-person on Thursday mornings or evenings, or virtually on Friday mornings. Our first two weeks of rehearsals on March 16 and 23 are open to new singers to come and check out the chorus to see if it is a good fit for them (provided they email us in advance). Advance registration is required for all singers.

The Chorus welcomes anyone ages 10 and up who identifies as female or non-binary, and whose vocal range comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff. All abilities are welcome and no auditions are required. 

Arts & Humanities Curators Speak at Next Stage Arts in March and April

by hahrenholz | Arts

PUTNEY, VT— 3/8/2023 — Next Stage announces the NXT Curators series, supported in part by Vermont Humanities, offering an opportunity for audiences to hear from curators in various arts/humanities fields. The intent is to shine a light on less known styles and genres, providing a behind-the-scenes look at what curators need to consider when working with their medium.

“For most, the arts are something we interact with as a finished product. We love the musicians we love, but we don’t understand the inner workings of how those mediums create their work,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “This curator series shines a spotlight on some less mainstream mediums to hear from the people who help facilitate the vast body of work, how it gets made, what goes into making it, and how to make sense of it. I hope this series helps people appreciate all forms of art at a deeper level.”

Jazz Chamber Ensemble The Global Trio Performs at Next Stage Arts on December 3rd

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents an evening with Boston-based jazz chamber ensemble The Global Trio, featuring pianist Chase Morrin, cellist Naseem Alatrash, and percussionist George Lernis, on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 pm at Next Stage Arts.

“Earlier this year, we hosted these musicians as part of the Berklee World Strings Ensemble,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “These three were the highlight of the show, and when we had the opportunity to bring them back, we jumped on it. They represent different cultural and faith traditions, blending elements of jazz, world music traditions, and soulful expression – we couldn’t be more proud to present this to our community.”

The Global Trio features piano, cello, and percussion, breaking boundaries in jazz, classical, and folkloric traditions from the Middle East. Seeking new sounds of inclusion and global jazz, Morrin, Alatrash, and Lernis create dynamic, energetic, and surprising compositions in order to tell stories from around the world and to bring the world of improvisation and spontaneous musical communication to the stage.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Open Rehearsals Thursday

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to come to a rehearsal on Thursday, September 15 to see if Chorus is a good fit for them. Zoom rehearsals are also an option on Friday mornings.

The Chorus welcomes anyone ages 10 and up who identifies as a woman or non-binary, and whose vocal range comfortably includes the A in the middle of the treble staff.

Riverfest Weekend Kicks Off the 44th New England Paddlesports Championship; On-river and Off-river Activities; Riff Raft Regatta; ‘Lampey’ Competition

by LSBS | Recreation & Sports

BRATTLEBORO, VT—July 19, 2022—The Connecticut River Conservancy’s first-ever Riverfest Weekend kicks off Aug. 6 & 7 in Brattleboro and Hinsdale, highlighted by the 44th Annual New England Paddlesports Championship on Sunday. Riverfest promises family-friendly near-river and on-river activities bridging southwest New Hampshire with southeast Vermont. www/ctriver.org/nepc-riverfest

On Sunday (10-2p), The New England Paddlesports Championship (NEPC) will welcome racers from across the Northeast. Canoes, kayaks, surf skis, and stand-up paddleboards will have separate race classes. Although this marks the 44th year NEPC has been held on the Connecticut River between Southern Vermont and New Hampshire, this is only the second time competitors will paddle the waters in this stretch of river between Hinsdale, N.H. and Brattleboro-to-Vernon, Vt. The race, launching from Norm’s Marina, Racers can earn points that will count in the NECKRA Flatwater Point Series  www.neckra.org.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Outdoor Concerts!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus presents their 26th annual spring concerts entitled “Why Not Sing?” on Saturday June 4 and Sunday June 5 at 4:00 pm outdoors at the Retreat Farm. These will be the first in-person concerts the BWC has presented since 2019.

The concerts will feature songs the chorus has been working on this spring and includes some favorites from earlier sessions. Local musician Lisa McCormick will join the chorus on several songs, including “Tiny Lights” by Coco Love Alcorn and “Can You Catch the Moon” by Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell. The chorus will also sing Velma Frye’s “Take Heart” and Terry Garthwaite’s “Shine On.” McCormick and the chorus will be joined by the ukulele orchestra on a premiere of Barbara McAfee’s song (and the concert title), “Why Not Sing?”

Join the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to sing with us either virtually or in-person. We will be singing on Thursdays this spring starting with a Zoom “Open Rehearsal” on Thursday, March 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, after which singers may register to continue singing via Zoom or join one of our in-person rehearsals. 

In-person rehearsals begin on March 24th and will be held either Thursday mornings at the Brattleboro Music Center from 10 – 11:30 am or Thursday evenings at All Souls Church from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Proof of vaccination and singers masks with a filter or N95/KN95 masks are required for in-person rehearsals this spring. Zoom rehearsals will take place weekly on Fridays from 10 – 11:30 am. We hope to conclude our season with an outdoor concert in June, but you do not have to participate in the concert to sing in chorus.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Hosts Fall (virtual) Singalong Concert

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus will perform their fall “HeartSong Singalong” via Zoom on Sunday, November 21 at 4 pm.

The chorus will be singing songs led by Director Becky Graber. Some of the songs are very easy to join along with, and Becky will teach a song or two to all. Singalong-goers can register online via Zoom and pay for a ticket using the links on our website.

After over a year of exclusively singing on Zoom, this fall the chorus was able to sing in-person as well and recorded song tracks that we will sing with during the Singalong. Singers will be muted during the event, so feel free to sing along in the comfort of your homes, if you wish. Lyrics will be posted in the chat.

Marlboro Music Ensures Its Future Through Agreement to Purchase Potash Hill

by cgrotke | State News

Marlboro Music Festival has an announcement:

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to share with you the news that Marlboro Music has come to agreement with Democracy Builders Fund—our landlord this past year, following the closure of Marlboro College—to purchase the Marlboro campus that has been our only home since 1951. This arrangement includes an amicable settlement with Type 1 Civilization, which has been engaged with Democracy Builders in a dispute over ownership rights. We have issued a press release about this transaction, which ushers in an exciting new chapter in our history. 

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus’ 25th Anniversary Finale!

by bwchorus | Music

This 2020-21 year, the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus celebrates 25 years of singing with online musical events on the 25th day of the month. All singers (not just women!) are welcome to join us on Zoom.

Our final (and biggest) online singing finale celebrating 25 years of the BWC will take place on Tuesday, May 25 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

Director Becky Graber welcomes a number of guest conductors connected to the BWC in some way to come lead a song in honor of our 25th anniversary year. Artists include Peggo Horstmann Hodes, Peter and MaryAlice Amidon, Kristen Carmichael-Bowers, Andy Davis, Jane Lowey, Lisa McCormick and Julian McBrowne.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Hosts Mother’s Day Singalong

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus will perform their spring “Singalong Finale” via Zoom on Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9 at 4 pm.

As we finish our 25th anniversary year, the chorus will be singing songs led by Director Becky Graber and some guests as well! Some of the songs are very easy to join along with, and Becky will teach a song or two to all. Singalong-goers can register online via Zoom and pay for a ticket using the links on our website.

Singers will be muted, though we will hear harmonized vocal tracks, so feel free to sing along in the comfort of your homes, if you wish.

Join the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus – Virtually!

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus welcomes new members to help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary year by singing together weekly via Zoom. We will be singing on Thursdays via Zoom this spring starting Thursday, March 4 from either 10 – 11:30 am OR 7 – 8:30 pm until our Singalong performance on Mother’s Day, May 9.

The chosen music is an eclectic mix from around the world that is spirited, uplifting and easy to learn during these challenging times. Recordings and some videos are available to practice with between rehearsals.

Coco Love Alcorn Leads Virtual Singalong

by bwchorus | Music

Coco Love Alcorn joins Brattleboro Women’s Chorus for 25th Anniversary Virtual Sing

This 2020-21 year, the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus celebrates our 25 years of singing with online musical events on the 25th day of the month through May. All singers (not just women!) are welcome to join us for most of these events hosted on Zoom.

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus Hosts 25th Fall (Virtual) Concert

by bwchorus | Music

The Brattleboro Women’s Chorus will perform their 25th annual fall “singalong concert” via Zoom this Sunday, November 22 at 4 pm.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, the chorus will be singing songs about rivers, welcoming the ancestors & healing, led by Director Becky Graber. Some of the songs are very easy to join along with, and Becky will teach a song or two to all. Singers will be muted, though we will hear harmonized vocal tracks, so feel free to sing along in the comfort of your homes, if you wish.

Vermont Jazz Center Live Streams: Eugene Uman’s Convergence Quartet

by vtjazz | Music

The Convergence Quartet to Perform at the Vermont Jazz Center, Saturday, June 20th at 8:00 PM

The Vermont Jazz Center presents a live stream event with Eugene Uman’s Convergence Trio with special guest Wanda Houston on Saturday, June 20th at 8:00 PM. The group includes Uman on piano, Houston on vocals, David Picchi on electric piano and Jon Fisher on drums.

Drastic Measures – A Cartoon For Musicians

by cgrotke | Media
Drastic Measures

It is a new year and a new decade, and it is time to debut a new MuseArts Cartoon.

“Drastic Measures” is an animated cartoon of an elementary school band class in which our first triangle player gets bored with endless measures of rests and dreams of becoming a professional jazz funk musician, despite the continued distractions of triangles everywhere.