Hopkins drama program to perform Shakespeare classic
HADLEY — Hopkins Academy Theater Arts Club is producing William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” a romantic comedy set in an Italian villa. The play contains everything from mistaken identities, masquerade balls, evil villains, enemies to lovers, and lots of physical comedy.
Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday nights, March 27 and 28 and April 3 and 4, at 6 p.m. on the stage at Hopkins Academy. There will also be a matinee performance on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door. General admission is $15, seniors get in for $12, and children’s entrance is $10. Cash and check are accepted. Concessions will be available before the show and at intermission. Donations are always welcome for this self-funded program.
‘Polish Musical Treasures’ concert at Mount Holyoke
SOUTH HADLEY — The Kosciuszko Foundation New England Chapter will present “Polish Musical Treasures for Voice and Piano” featuring mezzo soprano Magdalena Wór and pianist Aganiezka Zick.
The concert will be held at Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, on Sunday, March 29, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased via cash or check at the door, and students can attend for free. Abbey Chapel is handicap accessible.
The performance will feature selections from renowned Polish composers that highlight the country’s rich musical heritage.
Mezzo-soprano Magdalena Wór is widely praised for the sumptuous color of her voice and her deep connection to music and text. Wór is a national finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, a finalist of the Moniuszko International Vocal Competition, and an alumna of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera. Originally from Poland, she has lived in the United States since 1991 and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Music at the University of Wyoming.
Zick is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, and educator, she has appeared in recital and collaborative performances throughout the United States and internationally in Poland, Estonia, Portugal, and Puerto Rico.
Originally from Warsaw, Zick studied at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music before continuing her education in the United States, earning dual Master of Music degrees from the University of South Florida and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan. Zick currently serves on the faculties of the State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota and Eckerd College, and is the founder and artistic director of the Bayshore Piano Chamber Music Series in Tampa, Florida.
Women’s health and nutrition summit coming up
The Western Area Massachusetts Dietetic Association, or WAMDA, will hold “Strong at Every Age: A Woman’s Health & Nutrition Summit,” on Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Holyoke Community College’s MGM Culinary Arts Institute.
As a group of registered dietitians and nutrition professionals in western Massachusetts, WAMDA members support ongoing education for professionals and residents about evidence-based nutrition and health recommendations. Speakers for the summit range from experts on the latest on GLP-1s (weight loss medications), strength training, and nutritional implications of peri-menopause.
For information, contact Judy Dowd at wamdapublicpolicy@gmail.com. For more information about WAMDA, visit www.wamda.org.
Community Action extends board election deadline
GREENFIELD — Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV) has extended the deadline
for its Community Representative Board of Directors election to April 6, giving eligible
residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties additional time to vote and shape the
leadership and priorities of one of the region’s largest anti-poverty organizations.
Voting is now open through April 6. To be eligible to vote, residents must live in Franklin or
Hampshire County and have a household income at or below 175% of the federal poverty
level. A household size guide is available at www.communityaction.us to help residents
determine if they qualify.
CAPV’s board structure is designed to ensure the community has a voice in how the
organization operates. The board includes community representatives elected by
residents with low incomes, along with public officials and leaders from the private sector.
Residents can visit the agency’s website for more information, to check eligibility
based on household size, and to vote in the community representative election.