Music in Common Celebrates 1-year Anniversary of Black Legacy Project

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Music in Common, a Berkshires-founded nonprofit that connects communities through music, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the launch of The Black Legacy Project, a musical celebration of Black history to advance racial solidarity, equity, and belonging.

The Black LP is a national project produced in partnership with community stakeholders at the local level.  As it travels the country, the Black LP brings together Black and White artists and artists of ALL backgrounds to record present-day interpretations of songs central to the Black American experience and compose originals relevant to the pressing calls for change of our time.

Community roundtable discussions help inform how these songs are interpreted and written.  The Black Legacy Project launched in Sept. 2021 in the Berkshires and is traveling to Atlanta, Los Angeles, the Mississippi Delta, Denver, and Boise in 2022 - 2023.  Music in Common has partnered with Berkshires-based Outpost to produce a docuseries of the Project. 

Since the September 2021 launch, Music in Common has produced ongoing Black Legacy Project programming in the region including a Black LP concert at the Colonial Theatre, a series of film screenings throughout the county, and a week-long course at Berkshire School. The upcoming anniversary celebration includes a combination of all of these.

On Friday Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m., a Black LP concert featuring a host of local musicians including Rob Sanzone, Rufus Jones, Bryan House, Glori Wilder, Terry a la Berry, Olivia Davis, Liam Giszter, and Brianna Nicola will take place at the Boland Theater at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. The concert will feature the Black Legacy Project songs recorded in the Berkshires which featured nearly three dozen local musicians including  Wanda Houston, Billy Keane, Gina Coleman, Matt Cusson, Chantell McFarland, Chris Merendaas and others, as well as songs from other Black LP locations such as the Ozarks and Denver.

A screening of the Berkshires episode of the docuseries will kick off the evening and a talkback with Black LP directors and musicians will follow the performance. The event is free and open to all. Tickets can be reserved at eventbrite.com/e/405652967947. Masks are required.

Other events during the week-long celebration include a Black LP performance at the FreshGrass Festival in North Adams on Saturday Sept. 24 and school programs at Berkshire Community College, DuBois Middle School,  and BART. A community roundtable on the theme of  "After Sundown"  will take place  at the Guthrie Center in Housatonic at 7PM on September 21st. Interested participants can register at https://www.theblacklegacyproject.org/roundtables.

The Black Legacy Project one year anniversary is sponsored in part by Berkshire Community College. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more info and to learn how you can get involved, contact Music in Common Marketing & Development Coordinator, Simone Alyse, at simone@musicincommon.org / 404-458-7982. 

Lee Chamber Celebrates Local Community Members

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:58PM / Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Chamber Executive Director Alexandra Heddinger is applauded for her work.

LEE, Mass. — Longtime teacher, coach and community activist Thomas Cinella was the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lee Chamber of Commerce.

 

Cinella was one of four individuals and one organization who were celebrated at last week's gathering at the Greenock Country Club.

 

"We have the honor of recognizing some outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication, leadership, and generosity make Lee such a remarkable place to live, work, and raise a family," said President Erik Williams. "Each of our award recipients embodies the spirit of community and service that makes our town so special."

 

The awards were presented to Cinella, Ray Murray III, Scott and John LePrevost, and the Lee Lions Club.

 

Cinella, born in Lee in 1941, has joked he'd spent all but the four years he was in college in his hometown. He taught math at Lee High School as well as coaching basketball for 45 years. He has a record of six state championships and 15 Western Massachusetts championships during his 20 years of coaching the girls' varsity team.

 

Outside of school, Cinella served on the Lee Library Board of Trustees, chaired the Sandy Beach Committee, was the town lifeguard, and was involved with the town's playgrounds.

 

"Tom, your name is on the basketball court, and the banners and trophies, and it tells an impressive story. But your greatest legacy is found in the students you encouraged, the players you believed in, and the generations of young people who carry something of what you taught them with them every single day," Williams said. "Lee has been fortunate to have you as a teacher, coach, volunteer, and neighbor."