The Big Day

After months of planning and help from many friends, this coming Sunday will be a day to remember. The amount of talent that will be heard at the Sandisfield Arts Center is staggering. I am so lucky to know these amazing people to whom music is as important as it is to me.

The Ferris Burtis Benefit Concert will bring into this 1840 building that was first a Methodist Church and later a Jewish Synagogue, a program of fabulous music. Yevgeny Kutik, Tim Bozarth, Brunilda Myftaraj, Melissa Morgan, and Igor Lovchinsky are giving their wonderful talents to reinforce the importance of classical music in life.



My deepest thanks also goes to the board of the Sandisfield Arts Center and especially to Sheila Liberson and Susie Crofut who have been a great help to me in this project. Maeve O'Dea of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, which manages our Foundation, has been invaluable in the planning and execution of this project.

I also appreciate the many gifts made by friends and strangers through reservations. Special thanks to those who gave generously beyond the price of admission.All of the monies received will go to further the education and careers of fine young musical artists.

As we spread the scope of the Burtis Ferris Foundation, we obviously need to have more money with which to work. This concert has gone a long way in helping this become a reality.

In addition to continuing to help Yevgeny and the Elektra Ensemble, we are now helping talented, young 'cellist Julian Müller with his college education. He represents the next generation of young musicians who will replace old fogies like me! 

While it is wonderful that we have great performers like Yoyo Ma, Peter Serkin, and the rest, it is up to us to ensure that the future of the world does not become some sort of mechanical-music-oriented

place. There is absolutely nothing like live music. We are trying to keep it healthy.

Therefore, although this concert is in a small hall in a small town, it is a piece of our future. These young musicians are the future.

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation always welcomes gifts from like-thinking people.

Ferris Burtis Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Foundation

800 North Main Street

Sheffield, MA 01257-0400

A fine young musician

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation is happy to announce that it will be giving scholarship support to an excellent young 'cellist, Julian Müller. Julian performed last night at Rood Hill Farm for Bruna Myftaraj and Melissa Morgan from the Elektra Ensemble, Maeve O'Dea from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, which manages the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation, and myself. He was accompanied by Anne Chamberlain, pianist.

Julian has been accepted at both the Eastman School of Music and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he will begin studies next fall. He has an impressive repertoire of concerti, sonatas, and other solo pieces. He has studied 'cello with Jay Shulman, Helene Annas, and currently studies with Ronald Feldman.

He has agreed to perform a recital here at Rood Hill Farm at the end of each school year.

I am delighted that the work of the Foundation, which John and I set up in 1987, is helping such fine young artists as Julian. Yevgeny Kutik and the Elektra Ensemble are also under our aegis. John would be very proud of the way the Foundation has grown. My thanks to the many people whose generous gifts are helping it grow.

Rood Hill Farm

Concert info

Ferris-Burtis Music Foundation Benefit Concert.
Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.
Sndisfield Arts Center, Hammertown Road,
Sandisfield, MA

The Ferris Burtis Foundation helps young classical musicians in their education and careers.

Reservations $20.00. Make checks payable to
Ferris Burtis Foundation and mail to Herbert Burtis
53 Rood Hill Road, Sandisfield, MA 01255. Please include your email address for confirmation.

Brilliant young violinist Yevgeny Kutik, pianist Timothy Bozarth and the spectacular Elektra Ensemble will perform. They are all under the aegis of the Foundation.

More generous gifts will receive two reservations and have their name listed in the program for all gifts of $100.00 or more.

Friend: $100.00-$299.00
Sponsor: $300.00-$499.99
Benefactor: $500.00-$699.00
Angel: $700.00-$999.00
Founder: $1000.00 or more.
Any amount over the cost of the reservation ($20.00) is tax-deductible.

Here is the updated program for the concert.
Johannes Brahms   Sonatensatz
Alfred Schnittke   Sonata No. 1
   Andante
   Allegretto
   Largo
   Allegretto-Largo
Joseph Achron   Hebrew Lullaby
Maurice Ravel   Sonata
   Allegretto
   Blues
   Perpetuum mobile
Yevgeny Kutik and Timothy Bozarth
Ernest Chausson   Piano Trio in G minor
   Pas trop lent
   Vite
   Assez lent
   Animé
Astor Piazzolla  Invierno Porteño
                        Primavera Porteña
        (From Cuatro Estanciones Porteñas)
 The Elektra Ensemble
Brunilda Myftaraj, Melissa Morgan, Igor Lovchinsky

Yevgeny Kutik under management

We are happy to announce that Yevgeny Kutik is now under the management of Parker Artists. To reach them you may contact Tom Parker at http://www.parkerartists.com/  and tom@parkerartists.com

You may also reach them by snail mail at:
Parker Artists
382 Central Park West, 9G
New York, NY 10024

At the moment they are negotiating European appearances for Yevgeny for next season, including his debut at the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague.

Prince William Lobkowicz and Herbert Burtis in front of the Lobkowicz Palace within Prague Castle.

Yevgeny will be joined by the Elektra Ensemble in the Gala Benefit Concert for the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation on May 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandisfield Arts Center. Find more information in earlier posts.

The Sandisfield Arts Center is located on Hammertown Road just off Rte. 57 in Sandisfield, MA.

Concert time

Only 22 days to concert time! Please make your reservations for the Gala Ferris Burtis Benefit Concert on May 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandisfield Arts Center.
For information, check earlier posts.

Here are the artists:

Yevgeny Kutik

The Elektra Ensemble

Brunilda Myftaraj, violin

Melissa Morgan, 'cello

Igor Lovchinsky, piano

All of these brilliant young artists are sponsored by the Ferris Burtis Foundation.

At the moment we are also auditioning high school graduating seniors for scholarship help.

Classical music needs help to survive.

That is our goal!

The Founders

The Ferris Burtis Foundation was founded by the late John Ferris, for thirty-two years the University Organist and Choirmaster at Harvard, and by Herbert Burtis, internationally known pianist, organist, harpsichordist, and teacher of voice. He has taught at Harvard University and Smith College.

The Foundation assists young classical musicians in their education and careers.

Herbert Burtis and the late John Ferris.

Gifts to the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation are tax-deductible. Contributions may be sent to the Ferris Burtis Foundation, Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main, Sheffield, MA 01257. A benefit concert for the Foundation will be held on Sunday, May 22, at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandisfield Arts Center in Sandisfield, MA.

Prague Concert planned

While I was in Prague recently, I had an opportunity to speak with my friend William Lobkowicz about the possibility of having Yevgeny Kutik make his Prague debut at the Lobkowicz Palace which is within Prague Castle. William and Sandra Lobkowicz have listened to the CD I gave them of Yevgeny's playing, were delighted with his performance, and plans are now underway to make this idea become a reality.

William Lobkowicz and myself in front of the Lobkowicz Palace within the grounds of Prague Castle.

The Ferris Burtis Foundation is proud to be able to help bring this about financially by assisting in the costs for this venture.

Yevgeny is already in the midst of an international career, having played throughout the United States, Japan, Gemany and Spain. In July he will perform at the Ludwigsburg Festival in Germany.



The Ferris Burtis Foundation has been proud to assist this brilliant young violinist in his education and his career. He, along with the Elektra Ensemble will be donating their talents in the Ferris Burtis Foundation Gala Benefit Concert to be held at the Sandisfield Arts Center on Sunday, May 22nd at 4:00 p.m. The Elektra Ensemble is also being assisted by the Foundation. For more details see the earlier entry on this blog. Reservations and gifts are already coming in for this exciting concert.

Contact Herbert Burtis at 413 258 4456 or roodhill@verizon.net