Page 22 - Tribute program full book

Berkshire Music School History
Thank you It was December 1940 when the articles of incorporation were official to form the Pitts-

field Community Music School, by Winnie Davis Long Crane. The original building
Tracy! was located in the old Police Station on School Street. In 1941, the school had 40 stu-
dents, taking lessons twice a week, and in 1945, a new department of dance was added.

We wish you Mrs. Crane purchased our current property at 30 Wendell Avenue in 1943. It had for-
merly been the home of five-term Mayor Bagg, and the original carriage barn remained
health and behind the main house. In the mid-1990s, the carriage barn was renovated to make way
for a fully handicap-accessible 90-seat recital hall and a catering kitchen, in addition
to a few more teaching studios. In 2020, we have fourteen teaching studios, the recital
happiness! hall and a dance studio which we use for yoga, programs for youngsters, and rentals.

During our current school year, we have 250 students of all ages (toddlers through age
94) coming for weekly lessons, classes or ensembles, all taught by one of our 33 talented
Love, Judy, Mark, and experienced faculty members.
Sophie and Josie Usow.
We offer private music instruction on nearly every instrument or voice, along with mu-
sic theory, music history, and composition. We offer classes for youngsters and chamber
ensembles for beginning and adult students, both classical, jazz and cabaret. During the
summer months, we have camps, workshops and lessons.

Berkshire Music School is a private nonprofit organization with three full time staff
members, five part time staff members, and 33 faculty members/employees. BMS has a
13 member Board of Trustees.

90% of our students come from within Berkshire County, with 50% residing in Pitts-
field. BMS has a generous financial aid program, and distributes about $16,000 a year to
families determined to be of financial need. We award $2000 each year in merit-based
scholarships.

BMS sees nearly 3,000 people at its various recital and concert series, most of which are
free and open to the public, over the course of a year.

With its new Outreach program, BMS is serving the 55 year and older populations
through its collaborations with the Age Friendly program through Home Instead,
OLLI, Elder Services and the senior living facilities. This is a growing target audience
for the Music School, as this population is the fastest growing in Berkshire County.
Another new initiative for BMS is working with public schools for music enrichment
programs such as after school ukulele or string instruction, and inschool assemblies by
BMS faculty members. BMS also has a strong collaboration with BCArc where faculty
members go into residences day care facilities and present concerts or interactive musi-
“Congratulations Tracy from everyone at Bradley Architects.” cal programs to nearly 1,000 residents each year.

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