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, May 17:00 p.m. Amherst Choral Society Senior Concert. Free. Buckley Recital Hall, 53 College Street, Amherst. https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/music/events   Saturday, May 22:30 p.m. “Making Overtures.” Arcadia Players. $40. Wesley Methodist Church, 98 North Maple Street, Hadley. https://www.arcadiaplayers.org/next-concert.html 2:00 p.m. Mackenzie Melemed, piano. “Tulrvaisuus.” $35. Stone Church Cultural Center, 283 Main Street, Gilbertville. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/friendsofthestonechurch/1779028 3:00 p.m. Peter Sykes, organ. $45. First Congregational Church, 251 Main Street, Great Barrington. https://theberkshireedge.com/preview-berkshire-bach-society-presents-organist-peter-sykes-may-2-at-first-congregational-church/ 7:00 p.m. Pioneer Valley Symphony Season Finale: “Destiny and Will.”  (Preconcert talk at 6:00 p.m.) $20-40. Greenfield High School, 21 Barr Avenue, Greenfield. https://www.pvsoc.org/event-details/87th-season-finale-destiny-and-will 7:00 p.m. Amherst Symphony Orchestra. Free. Buckley Recital Hall, Free, open seating. 53 College Street, Amherst. https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/music/events/node/929194 7:00 p.m. Castle of Our Skins. “And, Perhaps, To Bloom.” (Pre-concert talk at 6:15 p.m.) $30. Brattleboro Music Center, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro, VT. https://bmcvt.org/ 7:30 p.m. Springfield Symphony Orchestra: “Brahms & A Modern Voice.” $25-80. Symphony Hall, 34 Courthouse Square, Springfield. https://sfso-internet.choicecrm.net/dist/#/event-details/S147:E5 7:30 p.m. Antenna Cloud Farm: Emily Wells and Friends. $0-20. Shea Theatre, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls. https://www.antennacloudfarm.com/   Sunday, May 33:00 p.m. Holyoke Civic Symphony. “An American Story.” Free, donations accepted at the door. Holyoke Community College Auditorium, 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke. https://holyokecivicsymphony.org/season/2025-2026-the-stories-we-tell/an-american-story   3:00 p.m. Cantabile Vocal Ensemble: “Monarchs, Mishaps and Mosquitos.” $20/$5. Amherst Woman’s Club, 35 Triangle Street, Amherst. https://www.amherstwomansclub.org/event-6515106   3:00 p.m. Hampshire Young People’s Chorus. Free will offering. Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple Street, Hadley. https://www.hampshireypc.org/   Monday, May 47:30 p.m. UMass Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band: “May the 4th Be With You.” $17/$7. Tillis Performance Hall, Bromery Center, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://purchase.arts.umass.edu/ChooseSeats/33001   Tuesday, May 510:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Music: Sparky Quartet, Annual Meeting and Luncheon. See website for details. First Congregational Church, 18 Broad Street, Westfield. https://www.tuesdaymmc.org/this-season 7:00 p.m. Bombyx Brass Collective. Cinco de Mayo. Doors and café open at 6:00. $15-25. De la Luz Soundstage, 114 Race Street, Holyoke. https://delaluz.org/events/cinco-de-mayo/  7:30 p.m. UMass All-Campus Choir. Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. Livestream.   Thursday, May 711:00 a.m. Five Colleges Research in Music lecture. Benjamin Wadsworth, Free. Room 419, Bromery Center, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/research-music-series-talk-benjamin-wadsworth 7:30 p.m. UMass Concert Band. Adults $17, “Seniors” $7. Tillis Performance Hall, Bromery Center, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://purchase.arts.umass.edu/ChooseSeats/33401   Friday, May 87:00 p.m. Sarasa Ensemble. “All in the Family” (Bach). Advance $20, Door $25. Brattleboro Music Center, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro, VT. https://www.sarasamusic.org/concerts 7:30 p.m. Piano Trios by Dvořák, Haydn, & Mendelssohn. $35-50. Stonewall Farm, 242 Chesterfield Road, Keene, NH. https://ashuelotconcerts.org/event/piano-trios-by-dvorak-haydn-mendelssohn/ 7:30 p.m. Pioneer Valley Cappella: “The Fruit of Silence.” Free will donation. All Saints Church, 8 Woodbridge Street, South Hadley. https://pioneervalleycappella.net/concerts.html   Saturday, May 97:30 p.m. Culomba, Tiny Glass Tavern. “Where Shall I Fly?” Asbury Hall, Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Avenue, Springfield. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tiny-glass-tavern-performs-where-shall-i-fly-tickets-1980651820914?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 7:30 p.m. UMass Opera Workshop Concert. Free. Bezanson Recital Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/opera-studio-concert-may-2026 7:30 p.m. Pioneer Valley Cappella: “The Fruit of Silence.” Free will donation. Edwards Church, 129 Main Street, Northampton. https://pioneervalleycappella.net/concerts.html   Sunday, May 103:00 p.m. Piano Trios by Dvořák, Haydn, & Mendelssohn. $35-50. Bellows Falls Opera House, 7 Village Square, Bellows Falls, VT. https://ashuelotconcerts.org/events/category/concerts/concerts-at-the-bellows-falls-opera-house/list/

Our 2025 edition of Summer Serenade on September 19 at the Northampton Senior Center was a great success, with a full house enjoying Sarah Briggs and Kira Jewitt demonstrating the differences between a violin and a fiddle.  Watch this space for information about our 2026 Serenade!

Thank you to everyone who made our 2025 Musical Potpourri series a success!   Our next Potpourri series is scheduled for Wednesdays in October 2026, starting at 1:00 pm at the Northampton Senior Center. Watch this space for more information about the subjects and presenters!

     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