Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" Lemuel Gurtowsky, and Natalie Lewis

WHAT: The Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" presents
             Lemuel Gurtowsky, and Natalie Lewis
WHEN: August 23rd 4:00-5:00 PM
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2819847634962172/

The Unitarian Society of Northampton is launching an online concert series, “Live from the Sanctuary,” featuring music in a variety of styles from acclaimed local performers. No audience will be allowed in the performance space, instead the series will be broadcast live on YouTube, with online donations split between the Society’s Sanctuary Fund and the musicians.

On August 23, the Society’s incoming Music Director, pianist Lemuel Gurtowsky, will join the talented young Mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, a rising senior at UMass Amherst, in a recital of art songs, opera arias, spirituals and jazz.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2819847634962172/

Donations will be split between musicians and the Society’s Sanctuary Fund. Since April, 2018, the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence has provided sanctuary to Irida Kakhtiranova, a mother, wife, friend, community member, worker and U.S. taxpayer. Irida came to the Unitarian Society via the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, a local nonprofit working tirelessly towards immigration justice. Sanctuary allows someone who is in danger of deportation to have a protected place to live while making a case for asylum or citizenship. They have built lives and contributed to their communities here; a return to their native countries would destroy a family or pose a threat to their safety.

The Northampton Arts Council - Summer Concert Series 2020 Recap

The Northampton Arts Council’s first ever virtual Summer Concert Series wrapped up at the end of July after a trio of amazing local acts provided gorgeous tunes, meaningful messages and sweeping anthems for audiences at home. The past three Fridays have seen Mtali Shaka Banda kick off our 2020 series with important messages from his Jazz/Hip Hop trio, Kimaya Diggs weave songs through her unique mix of folk & soul, and local rockers Carinae blast us into orbit with their own psychedelic swirl of upbeat tunes.

Check out all of our past live-streamed performances on Facebook

This was the fifth year that the Northampton Arts Council has presented summer concerts in Northampton, continuing a long-held tradition that dates back to the 1970's. Since that time, this area has been fertile ground for producing unique original music, often renowned on the national level. Our mission is to showcase the best music from the Pioneer Valley as well as top notch touring acts that bring together the community to enjoy our picturesque downtown. Due to Covid-19, the format of this year’s series changed to a live streaming format to avoid crowds, and to respect social distancing orders while still bringing together local and nationally recognized artists to create beautiful sounds for the people of Northampton.

Help Support the Northampton Arts Council while raising funds for arts enrichment programs in our schools: 

https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/transperformance-30-live-aid

Thanks again to our generous sponsors:
Headline Sponsors: The City of Northampton, Massachusetts Cultural Council,UMassFive College Credit Union, Czelusniak Funeral Home, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, National Grid, David Narkewicz 

Media Sponsors: The Republican/MassLIVE, The Daily Hampshire Gazette 

Support Sponsor: Senator Jo Comerford

2020 Econ Dev Bond Bill Has $31M in Play for Cultural Sector Recovery

2020 Econ Dev Bond Bill Has $31M in Play for Cultural Sector Recovery

Bethann Steiner, Public Affairs Director

COVID-19

Last week the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate debated the 2020 jobs/economic development bond bill, “An Act enabling partnerships for growth.” The two Chambers engrossed (or gave preliminary approval to) their own version of the legislation. Both invested heavily in the cultural sector:
The House bill, H. 4887 authorizes $11M in new capital spending for Mass Cultural Council to support the promotion of local artists and cultural nonprofit organizations, ensures Massachusetts students will have access to remote cultural experiences in the coming academic year, and establishes a new statewide commission to make recommendations on COVID recovery for the cultural and creative sector.
The Senate bill, S. 2842 authorizes $20 million in new capital spending for Mass Cultural Council to support a nonprofit infrastructure and equipment grant program to implement COVID recovery strategies.

More information here

Northampton Mural for Diversity

In response to the recent uproar of media attention to police brutality against Black people, we are proposing a Community Mural where we can directly and indirectly honor Black lives, and create a vibrant symbol of support, solidarity, empowerment, and visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement. There are over 50 people who will benefit from this project directly, including local youths, local artists, workshop facilitators, activists, and many other folks who are involved with the project process itself. The Northampton community will indirectly benefit now and in the future.

All BIPOC artists, youths, and BIPOC community organizers involved will be compensated for their time and effort through a stipend at the end of the two week long project. In addition to providing paid opportunities to BIPOC community members in a time of heightened social tensions and economic hardship, this project will act as a unique opportunity for community building, artistic development, youth empowerment, city beautification, solidarity, and education for all those involved and whoever sees it.

As said beautifully by Angela Davis, “The work of the political activist inevitably involves a certain tension between the requirement that position be on current issues as they arise and the desire that one’s contributions will somehow survive the ravages of time” (Davis). Murals are timeless. Through creating a beautiful and engaging mural, we will be able to share a crucial message that will be empowering, thought-provoking, and permanent.

As funding a project of this magnitude is challenging, we are asking for your support. We are working with the Northampton Arts Council to try and raise a total of $8,750 to fund the entirety of this project, including supplies, artist fees, facilitator fees, transportation for local youth, water/refreshments for workers, etc. Our ask amount is above what the Arts Council is usually able to provide, so we are looking to the Northampton community for additional support. In these unprecedented times, it is a crucial time to support communities of color and combat the silence. A public, community mural will speak loud. We would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can provide. If you would like any more information on our project, feel free to reach out and I am happy to answer any questions you may have.


Thank you for your time and consideration.

DONATE NOW

Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" with Christien Beeuwkes and Dana Maiben

WHAT: The Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" presents
             Christien Beeuwkes and Dana Maiben
WHEN: August 16th 4:00-5:00 PM
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2643151285953509/

The Unitarian Society of Northampton is launching an online concert series, “Live from the Sanctuary,” featuring music in a variety of styles from acclaimed local performers. No audience will be allowed in the performance space, instead the series will be broadcast live on YouTube, with online donations split between the Society’s Sanctuary Fund and the musicians.

On August 16, soprano Christien Beeuwkes joins pianist Dana Maiben in a song recital including works by Franz Schubert, and W.A, Mozart, along with Vincent Persichetti’s settings of four Emily Dickinson poems, and the online premiere of a new set of songs by Maiben, “Love Is Not All ~ Six Poems of Edna Saint Vincent Millay.”
https://www.facebook.com/events/2643151285953509/

Donations will be split between musicians and the Society’s Sanctuary Fund. Since April, 2018, the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence has provided sanctuary to Irida Kakhtiranova, a mother, wife, friend, community member, worker and U.S. taxpayer. Irida came to the Unitarian Society via the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, a local nonprofit working tirelessly towards immigration justice. Sanctuary allows someone who is in danger of deportation to have a protected place to live while making a case for asylum or citizenship. They have built lives and contributed to their communities here; a return to their native countries would destroy a family or pose a threat to their safety.

Upcoming:

On August 23, the Society’s incoming Music Director, pianist Lemuel Gurtowsky, will join the talented young Mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, a rising senior at UMass Amherst, in a recital of art songs, opera arias, spirituals and jazz.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2819847634962172/

Transperformance 30: LIVE AID, A Benefit Music Festival

TRANSPERFORMANCE 30: LIVE AID, A Benefit Music Festival


WHERE: Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Twitch, and Local Northampton Channel 12

WHEN: Tuesday, August 18th, 2020

TICKETS: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/transperformance-30-live-aid



Each year the Northampton Arts Council raises funds for arts enrichment in Northampton Public Schools. It’s time again for THE end-of-the-summer benefit music festival! On Tuesday, August 18, 2020 Transperformance 30: LIVE AID will celebrate a global jukebox of solidarity while raising funds for arts enrichment programs in our schools. Your favorite local bands will transform into the same acts who graced the stages in London and Philadelphia at Live Aid 35 years ago such as Queen, Madonna, The Beach Boys, Pretenders, The Four Tops, Black Sabbath, Phil Collins, Judas Priest and more!




Unfortunately this year, due to COVID-19, we are not able to present Transperformance at the Pines Theater at Look Park in Florence. We will be live-streaming on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Twitch from The Workroom/Theater@33 Hawley. The lack of ticket and food sales revenue will really hamper our fund-raising efforts this year. Help us honor 30 years of bringing our community members together to support music and the arts by donating to this dynamic community event. Your generosity of $25, $50, $75, $100, or more enables us to continue this special musical tradition and furthers our mission of providing direct financial assistance for arts enrichment activities in the public schools and to local artists.




POSTER ART BY: Nate Duval

__________

HEADLINE SPONSOR: UMassFive College Federal Credit Union

MEDIA SPONSORS: Northampton Open Media, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 93.9 the River, Hits 94.3, WHMP, Pure Oldies 96.9,NEPM, The Republican

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT: Massachusetts Cultural Council, City of Northampton, Northampton Arts Council, APE@Hawley

Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" Concert Series: Monica Jakuc Leverett

WHAT: The Unitarian Society of Northampton “Live from the Sanctuary" Monica Jakuc Leverett
WHEN: August 9th 4:00-5:00 PM
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/3409801829044279/

The Unitarian Society of Northampton is launching an online concert series, “Live from the Sanctuary,” featuring music in a variety of styles from acclaimed local performers. No audience will be allowed in the performance space, instead the series will be broadcast live on YouTube, with online donations split between the Society’s Sanctuary Fund and the musicians.

Our second concert features Monica Jakuc Leverett (http://www.monicajakucleverett.com/), internationally distinguished pianist and Smith College Professor Emerita of Music, who will perform works for solo piano and toy piano, with music by J.S. Bach, John Cage, Kaeza Fearn, and Franz Schubert.

Donations will be split between musicians and the Society’s Sanctuary Fund. Since April, 2018, the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence has provided sanctuary to Irida Kakhtiranova, a mother, wife, friend, community member, worker and U.S. taxpayer. Irida came to the Unitarian Society via the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, a local nonprofit working tirelessly towards immigration justice. Sanctuary allows someone who is in danger of deportation to have a protected place to live while making a case for asylum or citizenship. They have built lives and contributed to their communities here; a return to their native countries would destroy a family or pose a threat to their safety.

Upcoming:

On August 16, soprano Christien Beeuwkes joins pianist Dana Maiben in a song recital including works by Franz Schubert, and W.A, Mozart, along with Vincent Persichetti’s settings of four Emily Dickinson poems, and the online premiere of a new set of songs by Maiben, “Love Is Not All ~ Six Poems of Edna Saint Vincent Millay.”
https://www.facebook.com/events/2643151285953509/

On August 23, the Society’s incoming Music Director, pianist Lemuel Gurtowsky, will join the talented young Mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, a rising senior at UMass Amherst, in a recital of art songs, opera arias, spirituals and jazz.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2819847634962172/