Podcasts about berks arts council

Amanda Ehst is a lifeline at Berks Arts Council as Community Programs Manager for those of us submitting PA Partners on the Arts grants, but she's just begun to help us all add art to life. From a potential biology major, pre-school teacher, band director, music festival coordinator, and now student in a master's program with students around the globe espousing art programs for mental and physical health for all brains everywhere, she is an inspiration. Like the hermit crab needing a bigger shell, she's fearlessly growing into a new journey bringing art to all.

Need inspiration? Meet Mamie Covell, the Community Engagement Coordinator for Berks Arts Council (BAC), an impressive fresh face, full of positive energy and ideas for the Berks art community. In this episode Mamie shares her own history and those who inspired her, the activities and opportunities, grants and visions supported by BAC. Looking to fund a non-profit or for-profit project or program? Contact Mamie; you'll be inspired! Berks Arts Council creates and supports art events, community collaborations and grants and serves as the funding liaison for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Find more information about Studio B Fine Art Gallery on our website: studiobbb.org, on Studio B's Facebook page, by contacting Jane Stahl, janeEstahl@comcast.net, 610-563-7879, or stopping by Studio B

Historic and unprecedented, COVID 19 has changed many things, including plans for the Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest which has now been postponed from 2020 to 2021.  This almost two-hour show features interviews with Berks Arts Council's executive director Meggan Kerber and Berks Jazz Fest's John Ernesto, who talk about COVID 19's effect and their excellent plan to carry on. On the lighter side, you'll enjoy music by Berks County's own Erich Cawalla, plus, we're offering a stellar live parlor concert recording by The Hot Club of Reading, featuring Josh and "Si" Taylor, Chris Heslop and Trey Larue.  Diane Dayton welcomes Curtis Harmon with Pieces of a Dream into her Cool Jazz Cafe, and Mike Anderson serves up a memorable live recording made at the Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jazz Jam. Chillax, be at peace, and let the music take you to a stream of consciousness that flows gently.

Show #1 of this commemorative and promotional series for the Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest's 30th anniversary in 2020 features Erich Cawalla, Keiko Matsui, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Gerald Veasley, Diane Dayton, Mike Anderson & The Berks Horns with many other special musical guests.  Presented by The Berks Arts Council, with the executive producer of the series, Dave Kline.  Produced on 1/28/20.

Meet the ‘VOICE’ of Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest – Michael Tozzi! He shares his jazz journey and talks about how it morphed along with the evolution of commercial radio. Michael is a versatile entrepreneur with many talents that have opened doors along the way. Michael talks about his mentors, his own jazz legacy and some favorite moments from past Berks Jazz Fest events. Enjoy the first story in this Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Backstage Pass Series made possible by the Berks Arts Council.

Every Friday night in July, the Berks Arts Council put together an international lineup of free concerts, held at The Bandshell. Guests Karen Haver and Gary Spencer talk about the variety of entertainers coming to Reading this year; and offer a preview of the inaugural BluesFest, coming this October in Reading, PA.

The Berks Arts Council ( http://berksarts.org/) gives the Pagoda Award to the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps. It is well deserved. The Buccaneers have raised the bar for Drum & Bugle Corps winning the Championship in their division year after year. We talked with Lou Tierno who started in the Brass Line in the mid-80’s and marched till 2000. He is now the director of the Corps and says, “It’s been a long time since I marched… Watching the energy building I really miss marching” Lou explains what a Drum & Bugle Corps is and how you can become part of it. He says everybody is welcome – no experience necessary! Lou said, “It’s all about how bad you want it and how much you are willing to work” The Reading Buccaneers (https://www.readingbuccaneers.org) certainly do this community proud!

Aired January 22, 2017

Berks Arts Council

Member Spotlight Meet Karen Haver: Berks Arts Council: Summer is coming, and so are the Berks Arts Council’s Bandshell Free Music Fridays!

Gary Spencer is the Production Manager for Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. He knows what an audience wants and he and his team endeavor to make it happen. Gary started volunteering with the Berks Arts Council in 1994 at Bandshell concerts in City Park. Gary Spencer says “They said they needed volunteers, I went up and knocked on the door. The rest is history. It’s been 22 years now”. Jazz Fest used to be a weekend event, then a 4 day weekend event and in the year 2000 the Jazz Fest ran 10 days. It was supposed to be a one year event in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Jazz Fest. It was so successful it became an annual 10 day event. That’s when Gary got hired to help coordinate and move the project forward. So what does being the Production Manager for Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest entail. It is a master juggling act to keep multiple stages, performances, venues, artists, bands, and fans happy at the same time. Gary and his team make it happen seamlessly. If there is a snafu, nobody knows it. According to Gary Spencer that is because, “Everyone has the same goals, to have a successful show, and everyone works together”. The devil is in the details and success means very long days for Gary and his team. Early morning sound checks and stage sets to theatre set-ups, lunch and dinner for the artists, tear-downs at the end of the night all done by teams of 10 to 12 volunteers at each venue. What has Boscov’s done for Gary, “It’s changed my life… Getting instant gratification … from culmination to fruition … with this you see joy in people’s faces and feel that buzz, you hear people having fun… everybody’s happy”.

Step into the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest with us! This event creates an opportunity for students, musicians, artists and audience to play a part. Karen Haver, Executive Director Berks Arts Council, notes the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest is the flagship event for the Arts Council. She says “It’s the friendliest festival in the world …. It’s a great tribute to our volunteers”. Karen Haver likens the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest to a great big family reunion. The volunteers and staff go the extra mile to treat performers and audience like family. Over the years strong friendships have formed. The Jazz Fest means spreading the art of jazz throughout Berks County. It has a huge economic impact in Berks County, infusing between 5 -6 million dollars in this community. Both visual arts and education are incorporated in the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Education is a big part Berks Arts Council’s mission. The collaboration between the Jazz Fest and local schools, helps form the next generation of jazz musicians. Karen says “It’s interesting to see the growth of musicians as they go through the program. Some students are now working professional musicians and come back to play during Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Haver adds, “You can make a living loving what you do”. The Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest ‘Frank Scott Memorial Art Of Jazz Show’ for visual artists is another way the Berks Arts Council creates an opportunity for the whole artistic community to be part of Jazz Fest.

Karen Haver, Executive Director of the Berks Arts Council, talks about what it takes to stage the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Berks Arts Council has a staff of 3 who work with Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest General Manager, John Ernesto, and 500 volunteers to stage this flagship event for the Council. Karen says the Fest provides the opportunity for a variety of collaborative events. The Berks Arts Council stages ‘The Art of Jazz’, a visual art show and ‘20 Feet From Stardom’ a film about back-up singers, in conjunction with the Jazz Fest which draws about 2/3 of its audience from out of town. Don’t miss the shows at the GoggleWorks, on Washington St in Reading, PA.

Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest mission: stage a ‘knock your socks off’ 10 day music festival, preserve and promote jazz music and education in the community. This hugely successful Fest is celebrating its’ 25th year. Before the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest there was Frank Scott. The Berks Arts Council in collaboration with Carolyn and Jerry Holleran established the Frank Scott Award to permanently recognize Scott’s musical and community contribution. Each year an honoree is named for their significant contribution to jazz and commitment to promoting music in the Berks County community. Who is Frank Scott? Tune in as Jerry Holleran and Toni Lynne, the 2006 Frank Scott award winner, introduce us to Frank Scott through their memories