Clark Art Concert By Zarabanda Variations

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Sunday, May 19 at 4 pm, the Clark Art Institute presents a performance by visionary classical group Zarabanda Variations and the American Modern Opera Company. 
 
The concert takes place in the Clark's auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.
 
According to a press release:
 
Led by violinist Keir GoGwilt, Zarabanda Variations is a group of composers, improvisers, and performers inspired by the musical histories of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century New Spain. The?zarabanda?is a dance with possibly Spanish, American, and Arab origins, which eventually transformed into a courtly European Baroque dance.?This performance?sounds the archival gaps of early American music, creating a vibrant synthesis of European and Latin Baroque, folk, and contemporary musical traditions.?
 
The American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) is one of the most exciting and innovative new music collectives operating today. AMOC*, founded in 2017 by Matthew Aucoin and Zack Winokur, is a group of dancers, singers, musicians, writers, directors, composers, choreographers, and producers united by a core set of values. AMOC* artists pool their resources to create new pathways that connect creators and audiences in surprising and visceral ways.
 
The performance features Jonny Allen (percussion), Vicente Atria (composition), Miranda Cuckson (viola), Emi Ferguson (flute), Mariana Flores Bucio (singer), Keir GoGwilt (composition, violin, band leader), Alec Goldfarb (guitars), Kyle Motl (composition, bass), and Wilfrido Terrazas (composition, flutes).
 
Tickets $10 ($8 members, $7 students, $5 children 15 and under).?Accessible seats available. Advance registration encouraged. Register at clarkart.edu/events.

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Williamstown Government Presents Communication Plan

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown is working to improve communications with residents.
 
The town manager told the Select Board last week that the town obtained a Community Compact Best Practices grant from the state's Division of Local Services to fund a consultant from the University of Massachusetts at Boston's Collins Center for Public Management to develop a communications strategy.
 
Improved communications is a growing concern for small towns like Williamstown, Town Manager Robert Menicocci told the board.
 
"The world has changed with social media," Menicocci said. "The expectations of what a community communicates to its citizens — the game has been upped.
 
"I think this was a new area for government and many communities are looking at a need to staff up to address communications, where, in the past, maybe a big city would have a communications director. Now that has trickled down to almost all small communities."
 
To that end, the town has completely revamped its website and hired its first communications director — both steps that were included in the November 2025 Collins Center report, "Roadmap for Inclusive and Accessible Municipal Communications in Williamstown, Mass."
 
Brianna Sunryd, a public services manager at the Collins Center, presented her group's findings to the Select Board.
 
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