Pittsfield Women's Barbershop Chorus Welcomes New Director

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Hills Chorus announced the appointment of Sunhwa Reiner as its new Music Director. 
 
Sunhwa Reiner brings a wealth of experience and fresh energy to the chorus. After 11 years of devoted service, former Directors Gail Wojtkowiak and Pat Feldman will be stepping back onto the risers and participating in the chorus as singers going forward.
 
Sunhwa Reiner is a seasoned music professional with a diverse background in choral direction, vocal and piano performance, and music education. Her experience includes producing and directing musicals, teaching K-12 music classes and private lessons, directing music and songwriting workshops, and collaborating with community groups. She is also a recipient of the "40 Under 40" Berkshire County Award, awarded in recognition for her music education and community engagement accomplishments.
 
"We are incredibly excited to have Sunhwa Reiner join us as our new Music Director," said Leslie Murray, president of the Berkshire Hills Chorus. "Her talent and enthusiasm are contagious, and we believe she will inspire our members to reach new heights on their musical journey."
 
The Berkshire Hills Chorus, a women's barbershop chorus based in Pittsfield, has a long-standing tradition of musical excellence. For over fifty years, the chorus has been engaging audiences with a cappella performances in the Berkshires and beyond.
 
In celebration of this new chapter, the Berkshire Hills Chorus extends an invitation to new members to join the group. 
 
Rehearsals are held weekly
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Central Berkshire Navigating AI in Education

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is researching artificial intelligence in education to inform future policy and practice.
 
"Our ultimate goal is to at least to have some common expectations that we can rally around first," Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said at December's School Committee meeting. 
 
In September, Robb established an AI ad hoc committee made up of teachers, a student, the IT director, and a School Committee member. The committee has been trying to meet twice a month, he said. 
 
It is charged with researching the challenges and opportunities AI presents in education to help the district navigate the "AI revolution."
 
Throughout the process, the committee will get guidance from Fadia Rostom-Makdisi, computer  scientist, AI educational adviser, and former principal of St. Agnes' School. 
 
"She's gone off on her own as a consultant and she's doing some consulting work with schools around AI and she's been doing some, as we've just been calling it, 'AI 101' training in our district," Robb said. 
 
During the November professional development days, almost 100 district staff and faculty received a three-hour basic AI training from Rostom-Makdisi which covered the how and what of AI and several commonly used AI tools in education. 
 
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