BMS Announces Scholarship Recipients

08:27AM / Friday, July 26, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Music School announced the 2024-2025 Talent and Merit Scholarship recipients. Students who are accepted into the Talent & Merit Scholarship Program benefit from up to 100 percent tuition assistance.

This year, BMS awarded almost $17,000 in Talent and Merit Scholarships, and continues to take Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarship applications on a rolling basis. The BMS Scholarship Program, which includes the Talent & Merit Scholarships and the rolling Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarships, remains integral to its mission of allowing students to learn and grow in the Berkshire County region without financial constraints.

The 2024 – 2025 Talent & Merit Scholarship Recipients:

Tracy R. Wilson Scholarship – Alyviana Manion, piano

Helen and Milton Fink Memorial Scholarship - Artois Sancho, piano

Gia Cox Caird Scholarship - Zoe-Ruth Brizen, piano

England/Scott Family Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation - Nina Rather, violin

Sara Alberti-Jencks Scholarship - James Ryan & Sai Meesala, voice

Paul Houston Memorial Scholarship - Shira Weiner, guitar

Daniel Pearl Scholarship - Destiny Tetlow, flute

The Chopin Scholarship - Madeline Davis, piano

The Paderweski Scholarship - Anderson Durfee, piano

Honorable Mentions:

Rose Garrison, cello

Bernardo Martinez, saxophone

Sagun Meesala, flute

Calliope Bednarski, piano

Clementine Delsignore, electric bass

Matias Chimarro, charango

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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