Berkshire Idol Seeking Singers for 10th Anniversary Competition

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Idol singing competition and charitable fundraiser is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year.

This year's beneficiaries are the Berkshire Humane Society and the Drury High School Performing Arts Department. The competition is being produced by Minerva Arts Center, a non-profit organization located in Williamstown whose mission is to promote the importance of an arts-based education.

This year's judges are Bernice Lewis, Larry Stevens, and Alex Lee Clark.

Open auditions are being held in September in North Adams and Pittsfield for singers competing in three age categories: 7-11, 12-16 and 17- Adult.  

Crooners will audition next week to move onto the semi-finals to be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at a location to be announced. Semifinalists will also be requred to raise $150 in pledge money to support the local beneficiaries.


The finals will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, when contestants will have a final round to win prizes from $250 to up to $1,000 for the top three in the two older categories, and $25 gift certificates to  iTunes for the runners-up in the 7-11 category.

Audition location and times:

  • Saturday, Sept.12, between noon and 2, at the Holiday Inn, 40 Main St., North Adams.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12, between 4  and 6 p.m., at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Ave., Pittsfield.
  • Sunday, Sept. 13, between noon and 2 p.m., at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield.


The fee to audition is $20 with advance registration here or $25 at the door.

Contestants will sing a song of their choice a cappella for a small panel of judges at auditions. Semifinalists will compete with a song of their choice, with a sound check planned for Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information: berkshireidol@gmail.com or www.iberkshire.com/berkshireidol

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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