MARK AUERBACH
Longmeadow Chamber Music Society
The Longmeadow Chamber Music Society, under the direction of William Harbison and Thomas Rowland, has announced its 33rd season of concerts in Longmeadow. The season begins on November 22 at 4 p.m. at the First Church of Christ (on the Longmeadow Green) with music for baritone and strings. David Tinervia is baritone soloist, and he’ll be joined by Marsha Harbison and Ronald Goravec on violin, Dolores Thayer on viola, and Boris Kogan on cello. The program includes music by Barber, Butterworth, Rosenmueller, and Mozart.
Marsha Harbison performs on the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society concert season.
Other concerts on the season include The Atlantic Brass Quintet with trumpet soloist Thomas Bergeron on January 8, and Music for Piano and Strings on April 29. That concert is an all-French program featuring the Faure Piano Quintet, the Ravel Duo and the Ravel Quartet. Judith Gordan will be the piano soloist, with Joel Pitchon and Marsha Harbison, violinsts; and Ronald Gorivic on viola and Volcy Pellitier on cello. All performances are held at the First Church in Longmeadow.
The Westfield News Group is one of the season sponsors.
For event details: 413-567-8213 or www.longmeadowcms.org.
Thomas Bergeron headlines The Bing Arts Center’s House Series.
Longmeadow Cultural Council
The Longmeadow Cultural Council presents its second 2nd Annual “Local Artist Spotlight” event on November 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Storrs Library. Local musicians Peter and Abby Thomsen will be the evening’s musical entertainment. The event is free and open to the public with complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres being served.
Longmeadow artist Donald Munson has been selected as this year’s featured artist. Munson has donated an original oil painting from his “Barn Series” as the evening’s prize, the winning ticket will be drawn at the conclusion of the event. Tickets are on sale at the Storrs Library front desk and will also be available on the evening of the event.
Donald Munson’s 50-year career as a professional artist encompasses an array of diverse styles and genres. His work hangs in private and public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. After graduating from The New School of Social Research, Munson received numerous professional accolades for his graphic design work while serving as Vice President and Art Director for Ballantine Books, Del Rey Books, Fawcett Books and Random House Publishing. He received a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Album Cover” for his “Chicago VI” album cover design. Munson also designed the corporate logos for: Available Press, Ballantine Books, Campfire Girls and Villard Books. Simultaneously, his original paintings were exhibited in New York’s Graham Gallery, the Heckscher Museum and The Society of Illustrators.
Currently, Munson concentrates on perfecting his painting while sharing his passion for the visual arts with his students at Westfield State University, where he teaches: Painting, Drawing, Graphic Design, Typography and Art History.
Munson’s art work will also be featured in a solo exhibit through January, “Memories, Architecture and Barns” at the Wood Memorial Library and Museum in South Windsor, CT For details on Don Munson: http://www.redstairstudio.com/
The Westfield News Group is one of the event sponsors.
For event details: 413-565-4181 or http://www.longmeadowlibrary.org. For information on the Longmeadow Cultural Council: http://www.longmeadow.org/320/Cultural-Council
Of Note
Gilles Vonsattel, Professor of Piano at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, is the recipient of the 2015 Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award. Vonsattel has garnered other important awards; including the Naumburg International Piano Competition, Avery Fisher Career Grant, Geneva International Music Competition, Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, and the Cleveland and Dublin piano competitions. A former member of the Chamber Music Society Two, Vonsattel is now an artist member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Keep in Mind
Shrek, The award-winning, family-friendly musical based on the hit film, plays the Little Theatre of Manchester through November 22. John Pike, musical theatre professor at Hartt School, former publisher of Show Music Magazine, and former Artistic Associate at Goodspeed Musicals, directs. For details: 860-647-9824 or www.littletheatreofmanchester.org.
Come Fly With Me: A Frank Sinatra 100th Birthday Tribute Concert with The Gregory Caputo Big Band featuring Rob Zappulla plays Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre on November 22. Celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra, Come Fly With Me spans the five decades of classic Sinatra, from the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra to the Las Vegas showrooms. For details: 413-997-4444, or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Sunday Serenades Chamber Music Series presents “Portraits in Sight and Sound” on November 22 at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Ticket prices include the afternoon concert and free museum admission. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
Thomas Bergeron brings his Thomas Bergeron Ensemble to Springfield’s Bing Arts Center on November 21. The Bing’s House Concert Series showcases the trumpeter, who is equally at home on the clasical and jazz scenes. Bergeron, Principal Trumpet with the Springfield Symphony (he was featured soloist last weekend) and he’s on the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society roster this season. Bergeron is bringing his hybrid jazz chamber ensemble to the Bing to perform music from his album “Sacred Feast,” featuring new music based on melodies and words of the great French composer Olivier Messiaen, as well as jazz interpretations of Debussy, Chopin, and Schumann. For details: 413-731- 9730 or www.bingartscenter.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
