Young Concert Artist Sasha Cooke at the Colonial

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Young Concert Artist: Sasha Cooke, Photo Courtesy of Colonial
Sasha Cooke is the first artist performing in the Young Concert Artists Debut Series Sponsored by Joseph and Mary Jane Handler at the Colonial on September 27, 2007 at 7PM. Tickets range from $20-$10 and can be purchased by calling The Colonial Theatre Ticket Office Monday-Friday 12-5 at (413) 997-4444 or 24/7 online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org Young Concert Artists Debut Series is generously sponsored by Joseph and Mary Jane Handler “The outward purity of a Renaissance angel and a voice of powerful sensual warmth and excellent musicality.” –The New York Times “Young Concert Artists’ track record for spotting the best new talent in classical music is legendary.” –The New York Times “Young Concert Artists has acquired a special status in the musical world, and deservedly so. Its auditions and concerts have brought to public attention a steady stream of remarkable musicians. It is extremely doubtful that any organization anywhere could have matched the YCA record for spotting great talent and helping it along.” –The New York Times Young Concert Artists, Inc. was founded in 1961 as a nonprofit organization to discover and launch the careers of extraordinary young musicians. Many of today’s greatest performers started their careers with Young Concert Artists, including Dawn Upshaw, Emanuel Ax, Richard Goode, Eugenia Zukerman, Christopher O’Riley, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Chee-Yun, the St. Lawrence String Quartet and the Borromeo String Quartet. Now the Colonial is partnering with Young Concert Artists to bring you three of today’s up-and-coming classical artists. Be the first to hear the best. Praised by the New York Times, American mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke is equally at home in operatic, orchestral and recital settings. Cooke is a member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program of the Metropolitan Opera and won First Prize in the 2007 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. During the summer of 2007, Cooke attended the Wolf Trap Opera Studio, appearing with the National Symphony Orchestra as Mercedes in a concert performance of Bizet’s Carmen, as Aloes in Chabrier’s L’Étoile, and in a recital program entitled “Manhattan Diaries” hosted by Steven Blier. Her other notable performances include Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Vespers at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York, Chausson's Poème de l'amour et de la mer at Miller Theater, New York Festival of Song’s “Brava Italia!” concert at Weill Hall, the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s 2007 Gala at Zankel Hall, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Mozart Academy of San Luis Obispo, and Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (TX). In March 2007, Cooke participated in Seattle Opera’s young artist program, as Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff. Cooke won First Prizes in the 2007 Sun Valley Opera Vocal Competition and the 2006 Bach Vocal Competition sponsored by the American Bach Society and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, as well as Third Prize in the 2006 Licia Albanese-Puccini Competition. Cooke received her Bachelor’s Degree from Rice University and her Master’s Degree from The Juilliard School. During her time at Juilliard, she was a frequent soloist in premiere performances by the New Juilliard Ensemble. She has also attended Music Academy of the West, the Aspen Musical Festival, Ravinia Festival’s Steans Institute, and Central City Opera’s Young Artist Training Program. www.yca.org
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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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