Flying Cloud Institute Welcomes SMArt Studio Director

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Patrick O'Donnell
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute has hired Patrick O'Donnell as director of its Science Meets Art Studio and will relaunch a makerspace program this fall in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.
 
"As SMArt Studio director, Patrick will lead vacation camp programs, after school makerspaces, family STEAM challenge events, and work with the FCI team to inspire the next generation of artists and engineers. We welcome his artistic skills and cultural experiences in the Berkshires as we work to partner with local school districts to bring meaningful experiences to students," said Executive Director Maria Rundle. 
 
Having received his master of fine art in illustration from Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design, O'Donnell has completed projects for companies like HBO and The Discovery Channel, in addition to freelance work in the videogame and comic book industries. He has taught the art of figure drawing and narrative illustration at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston and elsewhere. In recent years, he taught illustration to all ages at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge through school initiatives and community outreach.
 
As the studio director, Patrick will lead a makerspace in the school district in Sheffield. The theme will be "Driving Tomorrow: MAG-LEV Vehicles of the Future." Registration is open to SBRSD students in Grades 3-5 and the cost is $35 per student. Register at flyingcloudinstitute.org.

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Spring Jazz Ensemble Concert At Simon's Rock

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— The annual Bard College at Simon's Rock Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert begins Friday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m. 
 
Conducted by Professor of Music, Electronic Arts, and Cultural Studies John Myers, the concert will include new arrangements of pieces by artists such as Thelonius Monk, Johnny Mandel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others, as well as the debut of John Myers' original composition "Lifeline." 
 
Along with student players, the concert will also include faculty guest artists Allan Dean on trumpet, Pete Toigo on bass, and the voice of emeritus faculty guest artist Bill Dunbar.
 
"My students are multi-talented, not just in music, but in other disciplines as well, including physics, linguistics, and mathematics. Our drummer, Yonah Sadeh, is already an award-winning filmmaker, and both of our guitarists are performing composers with online followers," said Myers.
 
Among those student performers are David Bronshvayg on violin, Damien Brown on trumpet, Tzedek Fishman on piano/keyboard, Megan Hackett on guitar and providing vocals, Zoia Levit on accordion, Paul Rose on piano, keyboard, and vocals, Maayan Rosenberg on clarinet, Yonah Sadeh on drums, Bohdan Lastochkin on guitar, and Ace Thompson on bass.
 
"One of the many special features of the Simon's Rock Jazz Ensemble is that I create my own original arrangements of all the music, shaped by the abilities and personalities of the players. Another feature is our unusual instrumentation, which this semester includes accordion and violin as well as the more traditional jazz instruments," said Myers.
 
On performing Myers' personal composition at the upcoming concert, he also said, "My composition "Lifeline" uses three levels of 7: 7/8, 7/4, and 7/2. The students enjoy the challenge of playing in these kinds of meters, and I supply one of my own pieces every semester."
 
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