Berkshire Music School
Impact Report

2025 - 2026

Dear Berkshire Music School community,

2026 was a year of extraordinary growth and commitment to reaching out to our entire Berkshire County community in new and exciting ways. We continued to fill our schedule with private lessons, community group classes, performances, and outreach six days a week. This past year, we taught more students every week than we have in at least the last five years, more than doubling the amount of teaching hours, and reached a number of students with our private lessons and group classes unseen since 1954. We also opened a new satellite location in North County thanks to a strong partnership with Adams Theater, and the best is yet to come.

For 86 years, Berkshire Music School has brought music education to Berkshire County and we are the only music school in Berkshire County that offers programming for all ages, all instruments, and in all musical styles. As the times change and the community changes, so to does Berkshire Music School; we have expanded our offerings to include music from all genres, including rock, pop, jazz, and electronic music.

With our year coming to a close, we want to thank you for your continued support. Next year will be another year full of exciting new programming, expansion, and opportunities, and we look forward to sharing that with our community soon. In the meantime, this impact report will guide you through the many incredible things we have done this past year.

Luis Granda
Executive Director

About BMS

  • Mission

    The mission of Berkshire Music School is to foster the love and pursuit of music for all ages through quality music education activities, community collaborations, and performance opportunities.

  • Values

    - Access for all: all ages, backgrounds, skill levels, interests, and financial resources
    - Our excellent faculty and staff
    - Early childhood exposure to music
    - Lifelong learning opportunities
    - Performance opportunities

  • Offerings

    - Private and group lessons, ensembles, workshops, and classes
    - Collaborations with area cultural organizations, social service agencies, and senior centers and residences
    - Performances including in-house recitals, concerts, and performances in our community
    - Gifted and experienced musicians and educators as faculty

DEI Statement

In addition to the inherent sense of joy and camaraderie that music provides, studies show that music enhances confidence, community engagement, discipline, as well as improve cognitive and psychosocial development at all ages. Additionally, making music offers a unique opportunity for self expression, allowing individuals to articulate their identity in a visceral manner. Berkshire Music School recognizes that no one type of musical expression inspires everyone, and we endeavor to offer courses, teaching styles, and performances that represent the myriad of music voices present throughout our community.

Diversity is an integral part of making music, and Berkshire Music School is committed to providing a supportive, multicultural environment that is welcoming to everyone without bias toward any race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or socio-economic group. We are dedicated to creating an accessible, inclusive, and supportive artistic home for all who wish to participate.

Board of Trustees

Lyndon Moors | President
Lisa M. Avery | Vice President
Jeffry Bradway | Secretary
Cindy Hashim | Treasurer
Luis Granda | Executive Director

Ariana Massery
Karen Cellini
William Ketchum
Ellen Cooper Shanahan, Ph.D.
Paul Sundberg
Jerry Straus
Dan Talmi
Jim Wojtaszek

2025 - 2026 Faculty

Faculty members hold advanced degrees from:

  • Berklee

  • Tufts University

  • Cambridge College

  • University of Michigan

  • Bennington College

  • Manhattan School of Music

  • UMass Amherst

  • Julliard

  • Wesleyan University

  • University of Colorado

  • Peabody Conservatory

Faculty members have performed with:

  • Broadway shows

  • New York Philharmonic

  • Metropolitan Opera

  • American Symphony Orchestra

  • Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra

  • Kennedy Center Honors

  • Tanglewood

  • Lower Merion Symphony Philadelphia PA

  • Miami City Ballet Orchestra

  • Orquest Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico

  • Shakespeare & Company

  • NBC, ABC, CBS, 20th Century Fox

  • Feature Films

Instruments + Faculty

  • Cello

    Annabelle Hoffman
    Michelle Marrocco
    Perri Morris

  • Clarinet

    Jackie Vinette

  • Double Bass

    Alice Spatz
    Luis Granda

  • Drums + Percussion

    Andrew Smith
    Jack DiNicola
    Michael Lesko

  • Electric Bass

    Jim Wojtaszek
    Julia Rousse Shippee
    Michael Lesko

  • Flute

    Tari Wheeler Roosa

  • Guitar

    Jim Wojtaszek
    Julia Rousse Shippee
    Michael Lesko
    Nathan Cornellius

  • Music Therapy

    Emily Johnson

  • Oboe

    Terry Keevil

  • Piano

    Amy Renak
    Carlton Maaia II
    David Bartley
    Emily Johnson
    Melanie Maz
    Michael Lesko
    Nicki Ta

  • Recorder

    Tari Wheeler Roosa

  • Saxophone

    Jackie Vinette

  • Song Writing

    Michael Lesko

  • Theory + Composition

    Alice Spatz

  • Trombone

    Emily Johnson

  • Trumpet

    Geoff Cunningham

  • Ukulele

    Emily Johnson
    Julia Rousse Shippee

  • Viola

    Michelle Marrocco
    Ouisa Fohrhaltz

  • Violin

    Bing Liu
    Heather Goodchild Wade
    Melanie Maz
    Michelle Marrocco
    Ouisa Fohrhaltz

  • Voice

    Carol Yahr
    Chelsea Beatty
    Emily Johnson
    Michelle Marrocco
    Sherri James Buxton
    Terina Westmeyer

2026 Staff

Luis Granda

Executive Director

Jim Wojtaszek

Assistant Director of Facilities + Programming

Sherri James Buxton

Outreach Coordinator

Bob Lane

Operations Manager

Tristan Manzolini

Assistant Director of Events + Communication

Student Enrollment

This year we taught 5,442 hours of private lessons.

  • 2024 - 2025 : 4,550 hours (+892 hours)

  • 2023 - 2024 : 2,941.75 hours (+2,500.25 hours)

  • 2022 - 2023 : 2.028 hours (+3,414 hours)

  • Piano : 96

  • Voice : 58

  • Guitar : 55

  • Drum : 25

  • Violin : 24

  • Cello : 14

Instruments:

  • Flute : 11

  • Trumpet : 4

  • Clarinet : 4

  • Electric Bass : 4

  • Ukulele : 4

  • Double Bass : 3

  • Theory : 3

  • Sax : 3

  • Trombone : 1

  • Oboe : 1

  • Recording : 1

  • Mandolin : 1

Scholarships + Financial Aid

Berkshire Music School’s scholarship program has two branches and is open to all ages; the first is our talent and merit auditions, which are awarded after an audition in front of faculty members at the beginning of the academic year. The second is our financial aid packages, which are awarded based on family income, family size, and any special circumstances listed by the student or family. 

During 2025 - 2026 year, Berkshire Music School awarded over $14,000 in talent and merit scholarships and over $22,000 in financial aid packages, for a total of over $36,000 in aid. 

These programs helped 50 students take private lessons in the instrument of their choosing and reflects over 960 private lessons at no cost.

Scholarships were awarded thanks to the following:

  • Helen and Milton Fink Memorial Scholarship

  • Gia Cox Caird Scholarship

  • Moe England/Scott Family Scholarship

  • Paul Houston Memorial Scholarship

  • The Ruberto Scholarship

  • Daniel Pearl Scholarship

  • Chopin Scholarship

  • Paderweski Scholarship

  • Tracy Wilson Scholarship

  • Marybeth P. Ramos Memorial Scholarship

  • Dale Ott Scholarship

Community Group Classes

Thanks to the generosity of The Feigenbaum Foundation, The Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires, Lee Bank Foundation, Appelbaum-Kahn Foundation, and Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, all Community Group Classes were offered on a pay-what-you-wish basis. Suzuki string classes were supported in part to a donation by Anonymous for the Suzuki Program.

  • Music for Little Sprouts

    Music for Little Sprouts introduces children to the world of music and movement, offering age-appropriate activities for children ages 18 months through four years old.

  • Magic Violins

    Using the Suzuki Method, parents and children, ages three through six, build the foundations of playing the violin in a nurturing environment.

  • Presto Ensemble

    An elementary violin group for kids along with caregivers, this group is the next step in the Suzuki String classes.

  • Allegro

    Young musicians who have graduated from Presto Ensemble, work on their first chamber ensemble experience. This class is for kids aged seven and up.

  • Youth Beginning Piano

    This class works with ear training for pitch recognition, correct hand formation, and beginning composition. For ages nine through twelve, Daniel Pena-Ariel leads students through an immersion in music.

  • Youth Rock Band

    Run by Jim Wojtaszek, Julia Rousse Shippee, and Andrew Smith, our youth rock band class is a tutorial on how to play together in a band setting with guitars, basses, drums, vocalists, and keys.

  • Adult Ukulele Jam

    Julia Rousse Shippee guides adults through a class full of fun with an informal jam session. No experience is needed! She takes you through basic chords and songs that use them, allowing for an extensive collection of tunes that everyone can play together.

  • Adult Rock Band

    For adults over the age of 21, Jim Wojtaszek leads adults who are interested in playing in a band through the process of working together. For guitars, basses, drums, vocalists, keys, and any other instruments that want to join, this is an opportunity to be in a band for those that don’t have the ability to do so on their own! 

  • Bass Clef Club

    For intermediate to advanced players, Annabelle Hoffman directs cello, bass, and bassoon players to create beautiful pieces of music while honing skills. This class is great for playing with fellow bass clef musicians.

  • BMS String Orchestra

    All ages are welcome with intermediate to advanced experience to perform together in this class led by Bing Liu.

  • Recording Fundamentals

    Bob Lanes takes students through the process of recording their own music to produce tracks for demos or their own albums.

Special Programming

  • Finding Your Voice: Rising Stars

    Learn stage presence, microphone and singing technique, and how to perform successfully with Sherri James Buxton in this class for ages 10 through 14. This class is a confidence booster for all kids looking to sing in front of a crowd.

  • Finding Your Voice: Onstage Live

    Sherri James Buxton guides participants over the age of 16 through phrasing, technique, improvisation, and stage presence. She coaches participants on choosing appropriate music and keys, experimenting with different styles, and how to work with an accompanist.

  • Music for Babies

    Music for the littlest aficionados, music for babies is for 3 months old through 1.5 years to be attended with caregivers as music is explored in a loving and nurturing environment.

Summer Programming, Outreach Programs, and Community

Our outreach programs bring musical enrichment to underserved students. Throughout the community, in-school and after-school courses are offered to students of all ages. Along with students in schools, we bring music to senior centers, libraries, museums, and other community organizations in order to provide concerts, interactive workshops, small group lessons, and more.

These programs reached over 2,000 people this past year!

  • Summer Programming

    Adventures in Music

  • Outreach Locations

    Lanesborough Elementary School
    Lenox Elementary School
    Craneville Elementary School
    Kittredge Elementary School
    Becket Washington School
    Richmond Consolidated School
    Herberg Middle School
    Lee Elementary School
    Muddy Brook Elementary
    Morningside School
    Hillcrest Educational
    BCARC - 13 Residences
    Kimball Farms
    Boys + Girls Club
    Lenox Community Center
    Rectory School
    Calliope Cafe

  • Community Programs

    Shakespeare & Co Community Day
    First Fridays
    Downtown Pittsfield…It’s Alive!
    Sing Out! @ W A N D E R
    Common Grounds Festival
    NAMI

Berkshire Music School’s in and after-school programs, provided at Lee Elementary School, Richmond Consolidated Elementary School, Becket Washington School, Craneville School, Kittredge School, Herberg Middle School, Lanesborough Elementary School, Muddy Brook Elementary, and Lenox Elementary School was funded by following funders:

Berkshire Music School’s Choir Program at Morningside Community School in Pittsfield, MA was funded by the Mill Town Foundation.

Berkshire Taconic Community Fund:

  • Lenox Education Enrichment Foundation

  • Seven Towns Educational Enrichment Partnership

  • Pittsfield Education Enrichment Fund

  • Lanesborough Initiative For Excellent Fund

Massachusetts Cultural Council

  • Dalton Cultural Council

  • Hinsdale Peru Cultural Council

  • Becket Cultural Council

  • Lee Cultural Council

  • Richmond Cultural Council

  • Stockbridge Cultural Council

  • Washington Cultural Council

  • Windsor Cultural Council

Performances + Recitals

ONSTAGE LIVE SHOWCASE
July 28, 2025

WINTERGREEN
November 16, 2025

ONSTAGE LIVE SHOWCASE
November 17, 2025

RISING STARS SHOWCASE
November 24, 2025

SAMRIAH EVANS + THE NATE MARTEL BAND
A BENEFIT CONCERT @ THE ADAMS THEATER
December 5, 2025

BASS CLEF CLUB PERFORMANCE
December 6, 2025

HOLIDAY RECITAL
December 13, 2025

RISING STARS SHOWCASE
May 11, 2026

ONSTAGE LIVE SHOWCASE
May 18, 2026

SPRING STUDENT SHOWCASE
May 31, 2026

Lenox Loves Music

Every year, Berkshire Music School partners with the Lenox Chamber of Commerce to present concerts in Lilac Park in idyllic downtown Lenox, MA.

These programs are presents thanks to the generous donation of the Lenox Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Summer 2025 Performers:

  • Sasha Klare-Ayvazian

  • Karen Tchougourian

  • Boots & The Mixtape

  • Wintergreen

  • Sherri James Buxton and Friends

  • Matthew Thornton

  • Mary & The O-Tones

  • Katherine Winston

  • Aimee Van Dyne

STRINGS + STEEL : A GRAND + GEAR SHIFTING GALA

On May 2, 2026, we hosted the Strings + Steel Gala at the Stationery Factory in Dalton, MA. This two part gala was attended by over 100 people, with the first part selling out almost immediately.

STRINGS
Dave Bartley + Pete Toigo : Cocktail hour jazz
Artois Sancho + Carlton Maaia : Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin
Artois Sancho + Amy Renak : Ballet from Petite Suite by Claude Debussy
James Warwick : Paddle raise emcee

Mezze : Catering
Classical Tents : Rentals
Anastasia Drayton / Solarium : Flowers
Silver Whip Media : Video
Tristan Manzolini : Table Design, Program Design, Event Planner

STEEL
Whiskey City : General Admission Country Rock Performance

Special Events Committee: Luis Granda, Lisa M. Avery, Jeff Bradway, Ariana Massery, Tristan Manzolini

This event raised nearly $30,000 to benefit the music school!

Event Sponsors:

Amy Renak | Jeff + Marcella Bradway | Lisa M. Avery in Memory of Walter and Orleta Avery | Paul + Lenore Sundberg

Our Generous
Donors

Founded by Winnie Davis Long Crane in 1940, Berkshire Music School has a long standing history of bringing music to the community. We couldn’t do it without contributions from our donors.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to our institutional and individual donors for helping spread the joy of music throughout the Berkshires.

$25,000+
Anonymous
Anonymous

$10,000-$24,999
Lynn A. Calpeter

$5,000-$9,999
Paul + Lenore Sundberg
Ardinger Brown Family Foundation
Cindy Hashim
Kelly and Bill Kaiser
Ms. Emily Rechnitz

$2,500-$4,999
Keith Emerling
Steward Edlestein
Scott + Ellen Hand
Beth Balmuth Raffeld
Bruce Evenchik
Lisa + Rick Guadet - Deirdre Gaudet Charitable Fund
Michel Hashim + Cynthia Spinola-Hashim
Rotary Club of Pittsfield

$1,000-$2,499
Peter Krysa
Karen + William Ketchum
Francis Spina + Palma Fleck
Ms. Amy Renak
Connie + Jack Hume
Laura Rosenthal
Jeffry + Marcell Bradway
Chaya Schneider
Dan Talmi
Dr. Jeffrey Ross
J. Willar Dunlaevy
James + Caroline Taylor
Mr. Eric Andersen
Linda Ruberto
Paalla Oliv Overgaard
Ronald + Lynette Mason Harriet Wetstone Michael and Shawn Leary Considine

$500-$999
Anonymous
Evan Lurie
Lisa M. Avery + Robert Henriquez
Marjorie DeVries + Joseph Kravitz
Ellen C. Shanahan
Ivan Gjaja
Patricia Belden
Bob Bogomolny + Janice Toran
Deborah Balmuth
Edmund + Victoria Hornstein
Elizabeth Strauch
Joan Devoe
Mary and Akiva Talmi
Michael Considine + Shawn Leary
Ms. Harriet Wetstone
Susan Gordon

$200-$499
Amy and Quentin Chin
Carl + Stephanie Bradford
Margaret Poutasse
Marianna Poutasse + Eric Korenman
Allan Dean and Julie Shapiro
Doris Stevenson
Kenneth Cushman
Linda Conway
Mr. Philip Rich
Alice and Larry Spatz
Cindy Shogry-Raimer
Jeffrey and Judith Cook
Peter and Beth Levin
Richard and Susan Cetti
Robert B. Lee
William and Gail Bouck
Justin + Nicole Maaia
Kate Barton + Sam Craig
Nancy King
Susan Goodman

$75-$199
David + Valerie Sharper
Lawrence + Janet Ackerman
Claudine Chavanne
Lorraine Heidemann
Richard + Marcie Greenfield Simons
Annabelle Hoffman
Brian Phillips
John + Mary Dickinson
Lisken + Robert Dus
Sergey Yantovsky
Ariana Massery
Dave + Elizabeth Avery
David Mead
James + Marnille Sancho
James Ruberto
Jane Rosen
Joe + Ann Fiteni
Jonathan Swartz
Jude Wombell
Kate Barton
Marilyn King Leetaru
Mark + Elisa Snowise
Marlene + Stephen Walt
Mary Ann Bascom
Mr. David Strassler
Mr. Marvin Chech
Richard + Joyce Lacatell
Stuart J. Masters + Ellen K. Masters
Susan Phillips
Tracy Wilson
Tury Cruz Cespedes and Ivan Ospina Gutierrez
Christine W. Baldridge
Larry + Jane Pellish
Paul S. Herklotz

$20+
Ruth and Stan Shapshay
Edna E. McNulty
Joseph + Maureen Hennessey
Kathleen Van Orman
Lynn Browne
Mr. + Mrs. Fred Landes
Mr. Ronald Barron
Stephanie Martin
Stephen Capeless
William J. Cameron Jr.
James Ciullo + Betty Palucci
Emilee Reynolds
Carolyn Renzi
Joyce + Peter Nelson
Mr. + Mrs. Martin Jonas
Nancy Olsen
Cathy and John Garcia Mario and Laurel Caluori

Academic Year Sponsors:

BMS Campus Collaborations + Rentals