Lynn Sweet

Jimmy Bergin

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James is a conductor, composer, violist, and music educator; he teaches music at BART (Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter School) and is a teaching artist with 18 Degrees/Kids 4 Harmony at the Brayton Elementary School in North Adams. He is a member of the Berkshire Symphony, and conducts CIAO! (Community Intergenerational Action Orchestra), a community string orchestra he founded that is based in Williamstown, MA.  He has a degree in Music Theory from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Joseph Maneri. He maintains a busy private teaching schedule in Williamstown. 

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Rebecca Mills

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Rebecca teaches middle school band and general music at Mt. Anthony Middle School in Bennington, VT. Originally from California, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from San Jose State University. While at San Jose State, she was heavily involved in all genres of performing: concert band, jazz band, marching band, pep band, saxophone quartet, and saxophone ensemble. She then moved to New England and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance studying under Lynn Klock. While at UMass, she held a fellowship teaching a music and arts appreciation course, and was an active performer with the wind ensemble and saxophone quartets. Before moving to Vermont, she lived in the Northeast Kingdom and taught elementary and middle school band and general music. She currently lives in North Bennington with her husband and two cats. When not teaching or playing, she loves to run, hike, swim, and kayak.

Alex Atchley

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Alex Atchley is a freelance percussionist, timpanist and drummer based in Scotia, NY. He previously worked as a freelancer in Chicago, IL from 2013-2016. During that time he performed with several regional orchestras in Chicago, Northern Indiana and Western Michigan including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Elgin Symphony. Alex also served as Section Percussionist with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Illinois’ third largest professional symphony. 

  In the Albany area Alex has performed and recorded with the Albany Symphony, Glens Falls Symphony, Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony and Berkshire Symphony. He frequently performs with the Playhouse Stage Co. in their regular season and Park Playhouse Summer performances. In 2022 Alex was the resident drummer for the Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham, NY. He has also performed with the National Broadway Tour of “Ain’t Too Proud” at Proctor’s Theater.

Jessica O'Connell

Patrick O'Connell

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Patrick is the orchestra director at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, VT, orchestra director of the Southern Vermont Sinfonia, and the wind ensemble conductor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. As a double bass player, he performs regularly with the Berkshire Symphony, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Opera Festival.  Prior to working in the Bennnington/Williamstown area, he had the privilege of teaching elementary string orchestra for 10 years in New York State.

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