2026 ArtsAlive! Schedule
Join us in Daniel Chester French’s Studio for music, dance and theatrical performances, plus poetry readings and compelling conversations. All events will take place at 5:30pm unless otherwise noted.
June 11: Latin Pianist and Composer Leo Blanco’s The Sugar Road Project
Leo Blanco’s acclaimed Sugar Road Project explores how African diaspora impacted the musical culture of Latin America while his ensemble, Son Mass, fuses these Afro-Caribbean rhythms with modern jazz. Leo Blanco’s performances are both an intellectual experience and an emotional encounter.
June 23: Music and the Mind with Mark Shapiro – Part 1
Last season the witty and “insightful” (The New York Times) American conductor Mark Shapiro took us on a tour of recent thinking about the musical mind, exploring how we perceive, process and respond to music. In two follow-up sessions this summer, Maestro Shapiro recapitulates this material and applies it to classic repertoire, with demonstrations from Beethoven’s groundbreaking Symphony No.1. Participants will enjoy and benefit from attending either or both sessions.
July 7 & 9: Dancer Ian Spencer Bell with Pianist Lauren Aiola
Lauren will play Schubert's complete Moment Musicaux. Ian will dance Isadora Duncan's Third Moment, Maria-Theresa Duncan's Fifth Moment, and a movement of his own in the style of Duncan. Ian will also perform a new work with poems or live music.
July 8: Patriotism in Practice: History, Media, and Civic Life – A conversation with Governor Deval Patrick, journalist Martin Baron, historian Kendra Field and more! (5pm start)
This coming season, we will examine the theme of patriotism through the work of French and his contemporaries, alongside contemporary perspectives. As part of this exploration, we are organizing a panel discussion on patriotism to be moderated by Governor Deval Patrick, featuring historian and Tufts University Professor Kendra Field, and journalist and author Martin Baron.
July 10: Reson8 Vocal Octet presents Hero Songs
A chamber music ensemble of Pittsburgh’s acclaimed Resonance Works, this group will present the song cycle Hero Songs by Petter Hilliard and and Matt Boresi. Hero Songs is a meditation on heroism and service, contemplating the past, present, and future of fortitude, effort, and sacrifice.
July 15: We (too) the People: Voices from the New England Poetry Club
The New England Poetry Club is presenting poetry by two NEPC members. PatrickDonnelly, former poet laureate of Northampton and program director of The Frost Place, is the author of five books of poetry, most recently Willow Hammer (Four Way Books, 2025). Cammy Thomas’s most recent work is Odysseus’ Daughter, poems written in response tothe Odyssey (Parkman Press chapbook, 2023). Four Way Books published three of her previous poetry collections
July 22 & 23: Reviving Chesterwood’s Tableau Vivants with Doria Bramante
Bramante returns with two evenings of her much-acclaimed interpretation of master works of art, using Daniel Chester French’s original frame. A popular art form during the Victorian period, and a favorite by Daniel Chester French at Chesterwood, a tableau vivant (French for "living picture") is a static, silent scene featuring one or more actors in costume, meticulously posed to recreate artworks, historical scenes, or literature.
July 26: Close Encounters with Music presents the Berkshire High Peaks Festival (3pm start)
A performance by an ensemble of young, international string players, pianists and vocalists, and faculty.
July 31: Latin Jazz with Richard Peña Trio
Puerto Rican guitarist Richard Peña intricately blends the traditional sounds of Afro-Caribbean music with the modern raw energy of jazz and bebop improvisation through his guitar’s warm and cutting sound. In addition to his latest 2025 album, The Latin Side Of Jazz Guitar, he has recorded five award-winning albums.
August 1: Boston Baroque’s The X-Tex performs Sounds from Spain
This subset of the Grammy Award-winning period instrument ensemble Boston Baroque makes its debut at Chesterwood with music from the Spanish Baroque and arrangements by Spanish composer Olivia Perez-Collemir, joined by tenor Karim Sulayman.
August 4: Artists Gardens in New England with author and Garden Designer Jana Milbocker (4:30pm start)
Some of our most beloved painters, sculptors and authors were inspired by the gardens they created. Their New England gardens were a dynamic form of artistic expression, and we are fortunate to be able to visit them today. Enjoy an armchair tour of the private havens of Edith Wharton, Julian Alden Weir, Childe Hassam, Emily Dickinson, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Celia Thaxter and others in Daniel Chester French's Berkshires estate. Start the evening with a guided tour of the newly restored Studio Garden with Grounds Superintendent Benjamin Perret.
August 5: We (too) the People: Voices from the New England Poetry Club
The New England Poetry Club returns to Chesterwood for a second program of poetry by NEPC members. Tim Mayo’s poetry collections include Muscle Memories of Love andDisaster, published in March, 2026 by Bainbridge Island Press. Pamela Wax is the author of Every Single Beast of My Heart (Sheila-Na-Gig, 2026) and previous
August 6: Pablo Casals, a cellist in exile – A conversation with historian and journalist Pedro Reina-Prez
When Pablo Casals first set foot in Puerto Rico in 1955—his mother’s native land—his life took a dramatic turn. One hundred years later, Pablo Casals’ scholar Pedro Reina-Pérez, takes us into a deep examination of the artistic journey after Casals exile.
August 7: Opera Night! - American Music from the Operatic Stage
An evening featuring America opera repertory with soprano Emily Misch, baritone Evan Bravos and pianist Christopher James Ray.
August 12: The Bel Canto Duo in Concert – The Making of a Master
The dynamic husband and wife duo of Darci Gamerl and David Downing return to Chesterwood after a one-month music composition residency last season. This summer they will present The Making of a Master inspired by Daniel Chester French.
August 15: Sherman Chamber Ensemble with Mezzo-Soprano Sandra Piques Eddy and guest violinist Victoria Lewis
Artistic director, cellist, composer and teacher Eliot Bailen returns to Chesterwood this season ina program for string quartet that will include Samuel Barber’s Dover Beach and OttorinoResphighi’s Il Tramonto for mezzo-soprano. The ensemble will feature Metropolitan Opera artistmezzo-soprano Sandra Piques-Eddy and guest violinist with Victoria Lewis.
August 18: Music and the Mind with Mark Shapiro – Part 2
Last season the witty and “insightful” (The New York Times) American conductor Mark Shapirotook us on a tour of recent thinking about the musical mind, exploring how we perceive, processand respond to music. In two follow-up sessions this summer, Maestro Shapiro recapitulates thismaterial and applies it to classic repertoire, with demonstrations from Beethoven’sgroundbreaking Symphony No.1. Participants will enjoy and benefit from attending either or bothsessions.
August 19: Harold Holzer on Lincoln’s Favorite Music
Harold Holzer is joined by a special guest singer to present Lincoln’s favorite music! Holzer is ascholar of Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the American Civil War Era. He is theauthor of Monument Man: The Life and Art of Daniel Chester French.
August 20: Classic Meets Jazz with pianist Anastasia Dedik and saxophonist George Michael
Enjoy solo classical repertoire performed by Anastasia Dedik, followed by a 30-minute jazz set featuring saxophonist George Michael. Dedik’s performances have been described as “very expressive, emotive and deeply poetic” (Nick Peros at Phoenix Classics).
August 27: Great Barrington Public Theatre -Ten Minute Plays
In partnership with Great Barrington Public Theatre, Chesterwood welcomes Artistic Director JimFrangione for a series of ten-minute plays.
September 6: Salsa Dance Party at Chesterwood with Manolo Mairena and his Salsa Band, featuring the Salsa y Control Dancers (3pm start)
What better way to end the season than with a Salsa Dance Party featuring singer-songwriter,producer, and multi-instrumentalist Costa Rican artist Manolo Mairena. His captivating music and dynamic stage presence have garnered him an international following.