Promoting classical music in the Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra
“Good News About Classical Music” is a weekly email delivered to you every Friday morning. It features upcoming classical music events, along with profiles of area figures in the classical music world and interesting facts and links. The long-time editor of Good News, Peter Jones, has retired. The HMC is currently searching for his replacement. If you’re interested, contact:
classical.music.evangelist@gmail.com
Classical Music Events
in the Pioneer Valley
Friday, September 117:30 p.m. Five College New Music. “Moments of Clarity.” Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/five-college-new-music-festival-2026-1
Saturday, September 122:00 p.m. Five College New Music. An Afternoon of Premieres. Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/five-college-new-music-festival-2026-2
7:30 p.m. Con Moto. $30. Brattleboro Music Center, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro, VT. https://bmcvt.org/
7:30 p.m. Five College New Music. “Wild and Tame,” . Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/five-college-new-music-festival-2026-3
Sunday, September 133:00 p.m. Five College New Music. “O King.” Music Without Royalties. Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/five-college-new-music-festival-2026-4
3:00 p.m. Historical Piano Concerts. Ivan Gusev, piano. $20. New Dawn Arts Center, 84 Main Street, Ashburnham. https://www.frederickcollection.org/concerts/fall2026/FredColl%203%20260913%20Ivan%20Gusev%20progr%20V1.docx/FredColl3260913IvanGusevprogrV1.docx.html
4:00 p.m. Chamber Music at the Drake: Jeewon Park, piano, Edward Arron, cello. Advance $20, Door $25, Students $5. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. https://www.chamberatthedrake.com/#edward-arron-and-jeewon-park
7:30 p.m. UMass Faculty Concert. Kris Danielsen, trombone; Stephen Felix, trumpet; Meghan MacFadden, piano. Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/faculty-concert-danielsen-felix-macfadden
Friday, September 187:00 p.m. Sarasa. ‘Schrank II ~ Cabinet II’. Advance $20, Door $25. Brattleboro Music Center, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro, VT. https://app.arts-people.com/?show=351009
Saturday, September 194:00 p.m. Music for Food Project. Brahms Requiem. Cash and/or nonperishable food items. Buckley Recital Hall, 53 College Street, Amherst. https://musicforfood.net/concerts/brahms-requiem
7:00 p.m. Amherst Ballet: “Bach & Ballet.” Corbin Beisner, piano. Hope Center for the Arts, 150 Bridge Street, Springfield. https://amherstballet.org/performances/
The 2026 installment of the annual Summer Serenade featured Dick Moulding exploring the world of ragtime and was well-attended at the Northampton Senior Center. Stay tuned for information about our 2027 presentations.
Musical Potpourri takes place on Wednesdays in October at the Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz Street in Northampton starting at 1:00 pm. The sessions combine discussions about different classical music topics with performances and recordings. Each session is $20 or you can subscribe to the whole series for just $60.
OCTOBER 7: Larry Newland on the art of conducting
OCTOBER 14: Edward Orgill on the saxophone in classical music
OCTOBER 21: Bella Voce (Teri Lafleur and Lisa Woods) with
Opera — Behind the Scenes
OCTOBER 28: Jay Ducharme on comedy in classical music
You can register in advance by mailing a check (payable to the Hampshire Music Club) to Musical Potpourri, c/o Pat Kapitzky, 59 Pioneer Knolls, Florence MA 01062. Please indicate which session(s) you’ll be attending.
The Hampshire Music Club was launched in 2012 by a local group of classical music lovers. It’s an educational organization whose mission is to sponsor music appreciation classes for adults and promote music appreciation (particularly classical music) in the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden counties of Massachusetts. The organization is run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Membership is open to anyone. Dues are $15 each calendar year, payable to the Hampshire Music Club, c/o 59 Pioneer Knolls, Florence MA 01062. The membership form can be printed from the link below. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps to spread the word about classical music events. If you’re interested in joining the Board, you can write to the above address. If you have any questions, feel free to email the Classical Music Evangelist:
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION