The mission of the West Springfield Arts Council, a Massachusetts Local Cultural Council (LCC), is to promote, support, and encourage the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences within the West Springfield community.
Tony Di Giore Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of Tony Di Giore, who served as the leader of the West Springfield Arts Council over the course of 50 years.
Each year, the West Springfield Arts Council awards $500 scholarships to high school seniors who will be majoring in the Arts such as Dance, Fine Arts, Music, Photography, Theater, and TV & Film.
Congratulations to Makenna and Ian!
May 29, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Friday June 28, 3 pm, the West Springfield Public Library will host a live themed concert. Blue Skies, performed by the StarCats jazz trio, celebrates the Earth and contemplates climate change. Beautiful music with a timely theme.
Vocalist/flutist Sarah Clay leads the StarCats jazz trio, with guitarist Draa Hobbs, and bassist Steve Bulmer. They specialize in Retro-Pop, Swing, Blues and Latin Jazz.
An award-winning trio, the StarCats has performed at the Northampton Jazz Festival, the 1794 Meetinghouse in New Salem, the Pittsfield Jazz Festival, Litchfield CT Sunrise Concerts, Summer on Strong Street Festival in Northampton, among other venues.
Supported in part by a grant from the West Springfield Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, this concert is free and open to the public.
Visit www.StarCatsJazz.com for more information.
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Thank you!
Sarah
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Sarah Clay
StarCats 2024 Tour: Blue Skies
Retro-Pop, Swing, Blues & Latin Jazz
Vocals / Flute / Vocal Coach
413-687-3228
All ages will delight in seeing and learning about Dave’s banjo, guitar, jaw harp, bones, spoons and more while enjoying some great participatory songs performed on each. Expect singalongs, movement songs, laughter, guessing games......some audience members may even be invited on stage to join in the fun with Dave! He is known for offering performances which bring audience participation, laughter, learning, and fun from start to finish.
A professional musician and educator based in Buffalo NY, Dave Ruch gives hundreds of concerts and workshops each year for schools, libraries, music festivals, historical societies, museums and community events both at home and abroad.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the West Springfield Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
For more information, visit www.
AFTERNOON OF BRASS #3 (AB3)
Memorial Weekend Spectacular
Discounted Tickets for West Springfield Residents
May 24 and May 25 at the Old South Church in Boston
& May 26 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.
The West Springfield Arts Council is one of 14 Local Cultural Councils that supported this year's Afternoon of Brass Concert.
This entitles West Springfield residents to the following benefits:
For tickets and up-to-date information visit the AB3 website:
https://www.northbridgebrass.com/ab3
For residents of West Springfield
Getting your discount is easy
Just use the West Springfield Arts Council's promo code when purchasing tickets online
Use promo code "LCCWestSpringfield"
NOTE: Your billing address must match West Springfield
otherwise your ticket may be invalidated
Afternoon of Brass #3 (AB3) is made possible in part by the LCC's (Local Cultural Councils) of the following towns: ACTON-BOXBOROUGH, AUBURN, GARDNER, GRAFTON, HOLLISTON, LANCASTER, MANCHESTER, MEDFIELD, PLYMOUTH, TAUNTON, TOWNSEND, UXBRIDGE, WEST SPRINGFIELD, WESTFORD, WILMINGTON. These LCC's are local agencies which are funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
http://www.northbridgebrass.com/ab3
info@northbridgebrass.com
5/10/2024 1:00 PM EST
Volunteer musicians to perform with BSO and Pops brass players
(Northbridge, MA – 10 May 2024) – Building on critically and commercially acclaimed shows since 2019, the team at Northbridge Brass Endeavors is proud to present the Afternoon of Brass #3 concert series. Concert goers and volunteer musicians will experience an unforgettable afternoon filled with the rich sounds of brass music. Three afternoon concerts are planned: May 24 and May 25 at the Old South Church in Boston and May 26 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. New for this year is a call for volunteer singers and brass players who will join forces with the professional brass onstage at Mechanics Hall.
Featuring WGBH/WCRB’s Brian McCreath as emcee, Lawrence Isaacson as resident conductor, Stephen Bulla as guest conductor and selected Boston Symphony Orchestra and Pops brass players, the concert series will be nothing less than … spectacular! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to experience the power and beauty of brass music live in person either as a participant or spectator.
Paying homage to the spirit of the Memorial Day holiday, the program begins with “Taps” and “Retreat” (Butterfield) arranged for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band brass by former USMC arranger Thomas Knox. The program includes some of the most demanding works ever written and arranged for brass including: “Festive Overture” (Shostakovich), “Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor” (Borodin), “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” (Handel), “Grand March from Tannhäuser” (Wagner) and “Pictures at an Exhibition” (Mussorgsky). While all concerts feature “Adventures on Earth from E.T.” (Williams), “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” (Wagner) and “Gathering of the Armies on the River Scheldt” (Wagner), only the final concert at Mechanics Hall will feature the volunteer musicians onstage with the professional brass ensemble.
Volunteer singers will add operatic glory to “Adventures on Earth.” Guest conductor Stephen Bulla leads the musical adventure with his unique arrangement for brass, chorus and piano. Volunteer brass players will add reinforced power to “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” and “Gathering of the Armies on the River Scheldt” under the direction of producer, conductor, and trombonist Patrick Smith. “We’ve got about a hundred volunteers so far and we have room for another hundred,” said Smith who added “to register and receive more information just complete the Interest & Availability form at our website.” Volunteer musicians must be at least 13 years of age.
For tickets and more information go to Afternoon of Brass #3: Memorial Weekend Spectacular. There is no option for cash at the door. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Discounted tickets are available to active-duty military and veterans, first responders, dependent family members, as well as EBT, WIC, and CC cardholders, and residents of towns* whose Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) awarded grant support to the event. Information on discounts is here.
