CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MUSIC AND WORDS EVENTS

June 27 4:30 pm Saturday
One Town, One Read | A Free Community Event!
An afternoon devoted to shared reading and discussion. This year’s program focuses on Daniel Mason’s bestselling novel North Woods, set in this corner of New England. The discussion will be led by historians and authors John Demos and Karen Merrill, with Alice Fahs moderating. Read the book and join the conversation! Pre-registration for this event is not mandatory but appreciated.

July 4 10:00 am Saturday
Celebration of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary | A Free Community Event! Neighbors and friends will gather in honor of the Semiquincentennial, reflecting on the founding principles of our democracy through the voices of those who live here today. The morning will feature a community reading of the Declaration of Independence performed by local residents. Patriotic music will provide a backdrop. This community event is brought to life through the partnership of The New Marlborough Historical Society and the American Legion Post 350.

July 18 4:30 pm Saturday
ARKAI
Music takes center stage beginning with the return of the Grammy-winning violin-andcello duo Arkai, performing their innovative and genre-defying music. Arkai returns to New Marlborough following their acclaimed 2024 appearance and the recent Grammy Award for their album Brightside. The duo is set to transform the stage with their signature fusion of classical precision and contemporary electronics, offering an immersive sonic journey that pushes the boundaries of traditional string performance.

July 25 4:30 pm Saturday
The Aimée Allen Quartet
Join the Aimée Allen Quartet for an afternoon of soulful contemporary jazz. Known for her “honeyed” voice and NAACP Image Award-nominated album Love & the Catalyst, Allen blends Pittsburgh roots with Parisian flair. This performance features reimagined standards, Brazilian bossa nova, and poetic originals, offering a narrative journey of technical brilliance and deep intimacy.

Aug 1 4:30 pm Saturday
Michelle Goldberg with Katha Pollitt
Kick off our season’s conversation series with an afternoon of incisive political analysis. We are thrilled to welcome Michelle Goldberg, the acclaimed New York Times opinion columnist, in a special appearance with celebrated poet and essayist Katha Pollitt. Together, these two formidable thinkers will take the stage to dissect the current political moment and the precarious future of American democracy.

Aug 8 4:30 pm Saturday
Historian and Author David Nasaw with Joe Donahue
Join us for a profound exploration of American history as award-winning historian David Nasaw sits down with longtime WAMC Northeast Public Radio host Joe Donahue. In this featured conversation, they will discuss Nasaw’s masterful new book, The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II, which challenges the triumphant “Greatest Generation” narrative by uncovering the hidden traumas of those who served.

Aug 15 3:30 pm Saturday
Tales of New Marlborough | A Free Community Event!
Gather with neighbors and friends as we present the second annual Tales of New Marlborough. After last year’s inaugural session drew a large and enthusiastic crowd, this afternoon of local storytelling returns to celebrate the unique voices and shared experiences that define our town’s character. “Tales” captures the essence of life in New Marlborough — reminding us that every neighbor has a story worth hearing. NOTE the 3:30 p.m. start time.

Aug 22 4:30 pm Saturday
The Mammals
The Mammals are set to bring their high-octane Americana and “party band with a conscience” spirit to New Marlborough. Celebrating their latest double-disc release, Touch Grass Vol. 1 & 2, The Mammals continues their tradition of healing hearts and rousing minds through song. This performance promises an afternoon of foot-tapping rhythms and socially engaged storytelling that speaks to “what we’re for over what we’re against.” Join us for a celebration of hope, empowerment, and world-class folk musicianship.

Sept 19 4:30 pm Saturday
Manon Hutton-DeWys Trio Experience
New Marlborough’s own Manon Hutton-DeWys as she joins two outstanding musicians for an afternoon of some of the most exciting piano trios in the classical repertoire. This performance promises a captivating exploration of emotional depth and technical mastery, featuring Mel Bonis: Soir et Matin; Beethoven: Trio in D major, op. 70 no. 1 “Ghost”; and Shostakovich: Trio in E minor, op. 67. Don’t miss this evocative musical journey.

Sept 26 4:30 pm Saturday
Itay Dayan Band
Immerse yourself in the soulful and high-energy world of contemporary Jewish music. Led by the virtuoso Boston-based clarinetist and composer Itay Dayan, this ensemble is widely regarded as one of the most exciting new fixtures in the global klezmer scene. Dayan has quickly gained a reputation for his cutting-edge creativity. His music is a bridge between the old world and the new, drawing inspiration from traditional Jewish sources while infusing them with the modern sensibilities of jazz and classical music.

Oct 3 4:30 pm Saturday
Grant Houston and Dina Vainshtein
In a stirring finale, our season concludes with an afternoon dedicated to the “great American songbook” of classical music. We are proud to present the formidable duo of violinist Grant Houston and pianist Dina Vainshtein, two artists renowned for their technical mastery and deep emotional resonance. Together, they will explore the rich landscape of American composition, celebrating the unique voices and cultural rhythms that have shaped the nation’s classical heritage.

MUSIC AND WORDS EVENTS

June 27, 7:00pm
Tales of New Marlborough!
Join us to hear fun and fascinating stories, Moth Radio Hour-style, about growing up and life in New Marlborough told by our neighbors. A free event!

July 26 4:30 pm
One Town, One Read
Melville in the Berkshires: Discover Melville’s Short Stories about Life in Our Hills. Participate in a lively discussion led by John Dickson, expert guide to Melville’s home, Arrowhead, in Pittsfield. Melville famously wrote Moby Dick while living in the Berkshires. But the Berkshires in turn fed his imagination and work. This free event dives into three of Melville’s engaging and entertaining Berkshires stories, ranging from a sobering exploration of women’s lives as mill workers to a wry account of his own domestic life at Arrowhead. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the New Marlborough Library and the Berkshire Historical Society. Stories to be discussed include “The Piazza,” “I and My Chimney,” and “The Tartarus of Maids,” all available for free online.

August 2, 4:30pm
Terra String Quartet
Prizewinners at both the 2023 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and 2023 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, the Terra String Quartet is a vibrant young ensemble based in New York City. They are composed of graduates of The Juilliard School, The New England Conservatory, Harvard University, and The Curtis Institute of Music. Praised for their “remarkable maturity and musicality” and “superb ensemble playing” (HydePark Herald, Chicago), these four musicians, through their unique individuality as artists, are committed to infusing the string quartet with equal parts passion, vitality, and humor.

August 23, 4:30pm
Ruth Reichl and Kevin West
Ruth Reichl is a chef, food writer, and editor. In addition to two decades as a food critic at the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, Reichl has written cookbooks, memoirs, and a novel, has been a culinary editor, the host of PBS’s Gourmet’s Adventures With Ruth, and editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine. She has won six James Beard Foundation Awards.

Author and journalist Kevin West grew up on a farm where food dictated the family’s identity — food traditions, were fostered and celebrated, a theme that he carries into his cookbooks. Kevin is also a food consultant and the editor at large at Travel + Leisure. Kevin is an avid gardener. His new book, The Cook’s Garden, is a practical guide to growing what you eat.

August 24, 4:30pm
Simone Dinnerstein
An audience favorite, this internationally renowned pianist returns for an exciting afternoon of great music. Dinnerstein has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras and in some of the most prestigious concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Vienna Konzerthaus, Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. The Washington Post states that “Dinnerstein is an artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity. These attributes, combined with elegance and grace, lend her music-making its captivating beauty.” The Harold Lewin Memorial Concert.

August 30, 4:30pm
Paul Krugman and Ellen Pollock
Trump, Tariffs and the Trouble Ahead: Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist and former New York Times columnist, will explore the political and economic fallout of the second Trump administration, as well as the state of the nation and his career as one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals, in a candid and lively discussion led by Ellen Pollock, the business editor of the New York Times.

September 6, 4:30pm
Heard World Jazz
Get ready to open your ears and hearts and get up dancing! The musicians and dancers of Heard World Jazz bring passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for 15 years, their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond. Their CDs Karibu and the daring Flyway have garnered much critical acclaim. Heard World Jazz is a four-time Eddy Music Awards nominee in the World Music category. This is a family-friendly event you won’t want to miss!

September 13, 4:30
Bill McKibben
Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization. Acclaimed author, educator and environmentalist Bill McKibben will discuss the climate crisis and his new book, a call to harness solar power and rewrite our scientific, economic and political future. McKibben’s book traces the arrival of plentiful, inexpensive solar energy, which, if it accelerates, gives us a chance not just to limit climate change’s damage, but to reorder the world on saner and more humane grounds.

September 20, 4:30pm
The Laura Anglade Quartet
Drawing inspiration from Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae, and Barbra Streisand, among others, this wonderful singer who has appeared internationally will deliver an afternoon of the Great American Songbook and more. The Toronto-based jazz vocalist has been charming audiences by bringing a fresh face to the vintage sound of classic jazz numbers in both French and English. She will appear alongside a stellar ensemble.

ART EVENTS

June 20 thru July 20
Botanically Speaking  
Reception Friday, June 20, 5-7 pm
“Botanically Speaking” celebrates the intrinsic beauty and complexity of plant life.

July 25 thru August 24
Elemental: earth / air / water
Reception Friday, July 25, 5-7 pm
“Elemental: Earth/Air/Water” explores the fundamental forces of nature. The show delves into the physical as well as symbolic characteristics of these defining components of our existence.

August 29 thru October 5
Black and White and What Lies Between
Reception Friday, August 29, 5-7 pm
“Black and White and What Lies Between” examines the ways in which art forms can convey depth, emotion, and meaning purely through line, contour, and tone.