Berkshire Hills Music Academy is a spacious, 40-acre property in South Hadley, just minutes from downtown. The only private, post-secondary residential school for young adults with cognitive or learning disabilities as well as exceptional talent for music, Berkshire Hills was founded in 1999 and ushered in its inaugural class of 14 in 2001. Since then, the students at Berkshire Hills have forged relationships with many area organizations, including Best Buddies Massachusetts, the state's only nonprofit devoted solely to "enhanc[ing] the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment."
This Saturday, May 3 at 9 p.m., Best Buddies is teaming up students from Berkshire Hills and local musicians for a one-of-a-kind rock show, the Best Buddies Massachusetts 2008 benefit concert, "With a Little Help From My Friends," at The Elevens in Northampton. For weeks Valley musicians, including Seth Glier, Naya Kete, Ryan Quinn, Jason Bourgeois and members of Whistle Jacket and Amity Front, have been forging friendships and practicing a wide variety of songs with student musicians. This concert offers a rare chance for the students to learn first-hand what kind of preparation a show of this magnitude and professionalism requires.
"The students who are participating are musicians who want to do this with their lives," said Best Buddies Massachusetts Program Supervisor Matthew Andrews. "They learn so much being up on stage with professional musicians& Plus, they don't ever get the chance to play at a place like The Elevens in downtown Northampton."
The idea for the concert took form when Andrews decided to match students with painters, printmakers and sketch artists. After that was successful, Andrews decided to incorporate musicians.
"At first, the musicians were a little skeptical about what they were getting into, working with people with special needs," said Andrews. "But after they do it, we get such great feedback from the musicians about how they loved it and want to do it again."
