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BCI will bid farewell to its Sheffield home this summer after 35 years.

Berkshire Choral International Announces Its Final Summer in Sheffield

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Choral International, a nonprofit educational organization that provides amateur singers with professional-level choral immersion experiences, has announced that 2017 will be its final summer in its Berkshires location of Sheffield.

In efforts to increase both its national and international presence, BCI will bid farewell to its Sheffield home this summer after 35 years, closing out its Berkshires presence with two sessions scheduled to take place on July 15 and July 22. Founded in 1982, BCI is a mecca for amateur choral singers from across the world. BCI's choristers reside in 30 US states and five countries, and the faculty is comprised of career singers and musicians.

During their farewell weeks in Sheffield, choristers will study under two renowned conductors and be accompanied by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Referred to as "the brightest star in New York's choral music world," conductor Kent Tritle will lead choristers during the first farewell week in the Berkshires as they prepare to perform Mahler's Symphony #8 on July 15. Conductor Tom Hall will join BCI for his eighth season as he leads choristers in their performance of Verdi's Requiem, the final show in the Berkshires on July 22.

"We have incredible memories of Sheffield, but we are excited to begin a new chapter in the BCI legacy," President and CEO Debi Kennedy said. "Our decision to move beyond the Berkshires will allow us to truly become an international program and increase the number of cities our choristers visit each summer."

For tickets and information, visit BCI's website.


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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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