NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - After having to switch to online classes for the past two years, the Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies finally has a new home at Building 6 at Heritage State Park in North Adams.
The former home of Northern Berkshire Community Television is being converted into a multi-use space, with individual instrument rooms, recording booths and larger ensemble rooms.
It will be ready to host BAAMS’ summer jazz day camp next month, and it’ll also be the site of their after school programs starting in the fall.
Executive Director Richard Boulger said having a space to meet in-person will be a big benefit for their students.
“The first, most important thing for us is to give our kids a model for sound, and frankly with Zoom, a kid can’t hear what the sound is going to be like with our faculty playing for our kids,” said Boulger. “Now we can have a model, a standard of excellence that they can aspire to play like.”
On Sunday, BAAMS will be hosting a grand opening concert at the state park’s courtyard. It starts at 1 p.m., and tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. All proceeds will go towards funding scholarships and purchasing new instruments for the school.