Berkshire Lyric is the oldest and most wide rangin advocate for choral singing in the Berkshires. Throughout our 46 year history, we have remained true to this vision and continue to grow and support the community by creating new programs always mindful of our organizational objectives to:
Encourage the art of fine choral singing by presenting a wide range of quality performances;
Provide training, practice and performance opportunities for the development of talent;
Provide scholarship opportunities for deserving students of vocal music;
Provide tuition-free musical opportunities to children of all backgrounds.
Founded in 1963 by Robert Blafield and the late Angela Talbot, Berkshire Lyric is the longest running community music organization in the Berkshires. We believe that this program of multi-generational musical performance and education is very important and unique work, not only among arts groups in Berkshire County, but large community choruses anywhere. We strive for artistic excellence and seek to strengthen our role as the premiere advocate for fine choral singing and vocal education in the Berkshires.
About Our Groups and Programs
Berkshire Lyric is more than just a chorus – it is a community of choral groups for adults, teens and children with the common goal of learning and mastering the art of choral music.
The Berkshire Lyric Chorus is a 45 voice chorus made up of members from all walks of life from Berkshire County and three nearby states. The chorus performs diverse choral music several times a year in the greater Berkshire area, culminating with an annual spring oratorio program. These concerts employ professional singers as soloists and instrumentalists largely from the Berkshires.
The Blafield Children’s Chorus, named in honor of founding director Robert Blafield, continues a tradition of joyous music making, presenting six varied programs throughout the county this season. The group consists of children ages 5-13 and is the only professionally led, tuition free children’s choir in the county.
The Berkshire Singers provides high school age singers the opportunity to perform a variety of programs throughout the season. Again, this is a tuition free, professionally led organization funded by Berkshire Lyric.
The Young Musicians Scholarship Program, founded in 2001, awards scholarships to the top vocal and instrumental young talent, ages 13 to 21, from Berkshire County. Winners have gone on to study at prestigious national music schools. This program is funded entirely through Berkshire Lyric and is unique for any size performing arts organization in Berkshire County.
The Berkshire Lyric College Choral Fest, now in its third year, brings together local college choirs to perform a joint program of classic and contemporary choral music. This program provides a showcase for the schools to sing larger scale works fostering collaboration and performance skills in different venues in Berkshire Country.
The Berkshire Lyric Choral Scholars Program.
The Choral Scholars Program provides performance and learning opportunities for a select group of outstanding high school singers, each nominated by their high school choral director. In addition to joining us in our annual masterworks concert, these young singers receive special coaching from Jack Brown, take part in special workshops with other vocal artists, and receive a scholarship for further vocal study.
The Berkshire Lyric “Adopt a High School Choir” Program
In 2008, the Berkshire Lyric Chorus started an annual tradition of inviting a local high school choir to join us in a beautiful holiday concert. The selected group performs part of the program on their own, and then joins with Berkshire Lyric in several selections. The young singers get a chance to sing in a more formal program accompanied by professional musicians, an opportunity not generally available to high school programs.
Support Music in your Community!
We invite you to join with us and support fine choral music education and performance in Berkshire County by becoming a friend of Berkshire Lyric.
Levels of support are listed below. Contributors are recognized by sponsorship level in our concert programs during the season.
Founders Circle: $5000 +
Benefactor: $1000
Patron: $500
Sponsor: $250
Contributor: $150
Friend: $75
Individual: $50
Berkshire Lyric is a non-profit, federally tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, any contribution made to Berkshire Lyric is deductible at tax time. If you are in a position to donate, or know someone who is, we ask that you support us however you can. Also, remember that some companies will match non-profit donations which will increase your giving power to an organization you believe in.
Donations should be made payable to Berkshire Lyric Theatre and mailed to:
Berkshire Lyric Theatre, Inc. P.O. Box 347 Pittsfield, MA 01202
Contact Us!
If you are interested in becoming a member of Berkshire Lyric or would like to know more about our season and organization, please feel free to contact us:
Berkshire Lyric Theatre PO Box 347 Pittsfield, MA 01202 413 499-0258
