Berkshire Music School Hires New Executive Director

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Berkshire Music School has hired Natalie Johnsonius Neubert as its new executive director, to replace Tracy Wilson, who is retiring in June after a nearly 17-year run in that position. 

The search committee, headed up by BMS trustee Christine Condaris, received applications from individuals across the country, and the selection was made in mid-April. Neubert will begin in early June, to work with Wilson during that month, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership.  

"The board is thrilled to welcome Natalie to the BMS family and looks forward to working with her," Board President Paul Houston said.

"The Berkshire Music School is an invaluable gem in our community, bringing the joy of music into the lives of our neighbors of all ages and backgrounds," Neubert said. "I am honored to follow Tracy’s exemplary leadership, and am excited to work with the school's board, faculty, staff and students to inspire and cultivate the vast diversity of musical voices in the Berkshires." 

Neubert comes to Berkshire Music School with 20 years of experience in arts management specializing in fundraising, programming and marketing for nonprofit music, theatre and dance organizations. She has worked with such institutions as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Dublin International Fringe Festival, Performance Space New York (formerly P.S. 122), Classic Stage Company, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, The Kitchen, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, and LUMBERYARD/American Dance Institute.

Most recently, she served as the senior development officer at Shakespeare & Company. As a curator, her productions have been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, American Theatre Magazine, and The Village Voice.

Neubert has also served on the board of directors for The Civilians Theater Company in New York City and the venue On The Boards in Seattle, and on the Development, Marketing, and Special Events Committees for the Pacific Northwest Ballet (Seattle), the Berkshire Museum, Community Access to the Arts, the Lenox Library Association, Berkshire Country Day School, and IS183, the Art School of the Berkshires. She lives in Lenox with her husband David and their children Craig and Rose, and is a co-chair of the Berkshire County Development Association and a member of Berkshire Business and Professional Women.

In addition, Neubert is a classically trained musician who plays the piano and saxophone, and is a professional sound designer.  She earned her bachelor of arts and master of fine arts degrees from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied both music and theatre. 

“I am particularly thrilled that Natalie comes to the school knowing the local community, its rich cultural offerings, the challenges we face now and in the future, with the instincts of a practicing artist/musician," Wilson said.

Founded in 1940 by Winnie Davis Long Crane, the Berkshire Music School is dedicated to fostering the love and pursuit of music for all ages through quality music education activities, community collaborations, and performance opportunities. The school serves more than 250 students taking weekly lessons during the school year from 32 professional musician/educator faculty members, numerous classes for young students, chamber ensembles, workshops, and summer camps. The organization also hosts a variety of collaborations with other cultural organizations, social service agencies, and senior centers as well as recitals, concerts, and residencies at its historic home at 30 Wendell Ave. in Pittsfield and venues across the county.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.