Mid Semester Presentation
Berkshire Hills Music Academy Project

presented by:
Professor Annaliese Bischoff, Studio Instructor
and the MLA Second Year Graduate Students

AMHERST, Mass. - Graduate students from the department of landscape architecture and regional planning unveiled master plan proposals for the Berkshire Hills Music Academy's new school campus at the former Skinner Estate in South Hadley on March 16th in Hills Central. Guest critics included CFNR Dean Cleve Willis, Interim Chancellor for Outreach Robert Helgesen,and alumna Sarah La Cour. Several officials from BHMA attended the review.

The new 40-acre BHMA school campus in South Hadley is slated to open in September. The school will serve young adults with Williams Syndrome and similar cognitive disabilities. The graduate students worked under the direction of Annaliese Bischoff, associate professor in LARP. The students were Paul Bengtson, Jennifer Claster, Patricia Gambarini, Sara Hage, Nancy Howard, March Lerch, Michael Schreiber, and Mary Scipioni. Other UMass staff and faculty who helped with the project include Thomas Houston, natural resources conservation, Charles Clifton, psychology, and Richard Van Emmerik, exercise science.

The BHMA is working with the region's Five Colleges to design and develop the new school that will feature a nine-month, two-year residential program centered around a music curriculum.

Michael Schreiber presents his model for an outdoor performance space at the Berkshire Hills Music Academy with help from Patty Gambarini.

Nancy Howard shows her design for the grounds around Berkshire Hills Music Academy with help from Patti Gambarini.

Dr. Sharon Libera, (Public Affairs Officer of Berkshire Hills Music Academy) with her son John look on at models and plans for Berkshire Hills Music Academy.

Interim Chancellor for Outreach, Robert Helgesen, and College of Food and Natural Resources Dean Cleve Willis praise the work of the graduate students.

Kay Bernon, President of the Board of Trustees, comments on the student work with Professor Nick Dines.

Special guest with the Berkshire Hill Music Academy project Julie Moir Messervy came to speak to the students about her work designing the Music Garden with Yo Yo Ma in Toronto and Discussed her design theories illustrated in her publications.

Julie Moir Messervy signed copies of her book for those attending presentations.