Berkshire Music School Hosts Matt Cusson Performance

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Music School (BMS) will present a performance featuring Grammy-nominated alumnus Matt Cusson on April 26, 2025, at the St. Germain Stage. 
 
The event will also include performances by BMS scholarship recipients and community group classes.
 
The event aims to celebrate community and support BMS's outreach programs. BMS reports serving 1,900 students through community outreach in Berkshire County schools and providing financial aid to 51 students, totaling over $35,000 annually. Additionally, 60 percent of the 250 students enrolled in BMS's "pay-what-you-wish" group classes do not pay for the classes.
 
Matt Cusson, a BMS alumnus, has collaborated with artists including Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Dua Lipa, Boys II Men, and Christina Aguilera. He has received a Grammy nomination, a Billboard Songwriting Award, and the Maxell Song of The Year award.
 
Other performers at the event will include Artois Sancho, Zoe-Ruth Brizan, James Ryan, the Berkshire Music School Adult Flute Ensemble, and the Youth Rock Band.
 
Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $500. Proceeds from the event will support BMS's efforts to provide accessible music education.
 
The event will be held at the St. Germain Stage, located at 36 Linden St, Pittsfield. Food service begins at 5:30 p.m., doors open at 6:00 p.m., and performances start at 7:00 p. Each ticket purchase includes a meal. Tickets are available for purchase, starting at $25.
 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

CBRSD Makes Cuts to Lower Town Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — School officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state."
 
Throughout the budgeting season, officials said they strived to keep the seven member towns informed amid contractual increases outside their control and concerns with a state aid funding formula described as "remarkably wrong."
 
The initial budget was about a 9 percent increase, but with "strategic reductions" the district was able to cut that down to 2.99 percent, bringing the total budget to $37,740,005. 
 
"This was no small feat," said Paul Farella, district's Finance Committee chair.
 
In earlier budget drafts, towns voiced concerns over significantly higher assessments, which ranged from approximately 7 to 15 percent, compared to prior years, when it was about 2 to 7 percent. 
 
With the revised budget, projected net town assessments are: 
  • Becket for $2,859,205, an increase of 5.49 percent
  • Cummington for $670,246, an increase of 5.11 percent 
  • Dalton for $10,106,445, an increase of 5.86 percent
  • Hinsdale for $3,277,495, an increase of 10.54 percent 
  • Peru for $1,083,751, an increase of 6.11 percent 
  • Washington for $826,774, an increase of 6.64 percent
  • Windsor for $995,438, an increase of 9.37 percent
"[The cuts] will be felt, but we believe that it is what is necessary for the time being to not overburden our towns while still being able to provide a quality education to our community," Farella said. 
 
Delivering high-quality education while responsibly managing public funds in a district, which like many rural areas, faces financial constraints is a duty Superintendent Michael Henault said he takes very seriously.
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories