New England Baroque Soloists to Perform

WILLIAMSTOWN - The New England Baroque Soloists will perform on Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m. in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus. This free event is sponsored by the W. Ford Schumann '50 Performing Arts Endowment and is open to the public.

This evening’s concert will include J.S.Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #5 and #2; Telemann’s Overture from Tafelmusik III; the second movement of Marcello’s Oboe Concerto with ornamentation by J. S. Bach; Handel’s Concerto for 2 Horns; Franceschini’s Concerto for 2 Trumpets; Contrapunctus No. 1 from Art of the Fugue; and Boccherini’s Cello Sonata in A Major featuring Ronald Feldman, Artist in Residence and Conductor of the Berkshire Symphony.

The New England Baroque Soloists play the rich and colorful repertoire of the Baroque period featuring newly discovered works as well as well-known compositions by Bach, Handel, Telemann and others. One of the main elements that distinguishes the NEBS from other baroque ensembles is that the the concerts always represent all four families of the orchestra - winds, brass, strings and keyboard. This makes the concert experience all the more colorful and tonally appealing.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.