>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ONE YOUNG WOMAN FROM THE NAVAJO NATION WHO'S MAKING MOVES ON THE BASKETBALL COURT RIGHT HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> ESPECIALLY ON THE COURT, WE JUST LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND LOOK AT A CERTAIN PLACE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY'RE LIKE, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

>> JOIN IN THE CHOIR OF ROCK VOICES.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY GET TO DO SEEING OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE SINGING SHOULD BE ABOUT BEING TOGETHER AND CREATING MUSIC TOGETHER.

>> AND ART, CRAFT, AND ENTERVIEWRN HIGH PRESSURE -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP COME TOGETHER AT KSW PRINTING.

>> ELDA STORE OUT OF NORTH ADAMS.

IT BECAME A NECESSITY FOR ME TO HAVE MY OWN THINGS.

>> JOIN US THAT FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

GROWING UP IN NAVAJO CULTURE IN UTAH, WE COULD KAINEES -- QUIANA DISHFACE REMEMBERS LEARNING TO PLAY BASKETBALL ON DIRT.

SHE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR THE GAME AND WENT OFF TO PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL, OFTEN THE RESERVATION, AND IS NOW MORE THAN 2,000 MILES AWAY FROM HER HOME, PLAYING FOR SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SPOKE WITH WE COULDIANA AND TWO OTHER PLAYERS AND BRING US THE STORY.

>> WHEN I FIRST -- FIRST TOUCHED A BASKETBALL I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING I WANT TO.

>> IT'S A GAME SHE WAS INTRODUCED TO IN MONT SEEMA CREEK, UTAH.

>> I GREW UP BESIDE A RIVER.

MY HOUSE IS NEXT TO THE SAN JUAN RIVER.

I USED TO LIVE IN A MOGGAN MADE OF -- HOGAN MADE OF SAND, SO I SLEPT ON A DIRT FLOOR, THE SHEEPSKINS.

THEY KEPT MY WARM BY THE FIRE AND IT'S JUST HOME.

>> QUIANA OF THREE PLAYERS FROM THE NAVAJO NATION WHO WERE RECRUITED TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

>> WHEN I FIRST CAME, EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS HISPANIC.

THEY'RE LIKE, CAN YOU SPEAK SPANISH AND -- NO, I'M FROM NEW MEXICO.

BUT YEAH, I THINK I REALLY LIKE IT HERE.

>> BACK HOME IT'S VERY DRY.

LIKE IT'S REALLY HOT DURING THE SUMMER, BUT HERE IT'S LIKE A LOT OF MOISTURE AND THERE'S A LOT OF TREES AND THAT'S ONE THING I FELT -- I FOUND INTERESTING.

AND NEW TO ME WHEN I CAME HERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE US THREE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL NAVAJOS.

AND LIKE IT'S REALLY FUNNY, ESPECIALLY ON THE COURT, WE JUST LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND LOOK AT A CERTAIN PLACE -- >> YEAH.

>> AND THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

>> LIME JUST ONE -- >> LIKE WE CAN JUST CONNECT WITH JUST ONE LOOK.

>> PRIOR TO COMING TO STICK, QUIANA PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BALL IN UTAH.

SHE CHOSE TO PLAY OFF THE RETZER VASE IN THE -- RESERVATION.

SHE SAYS THE YEARS WHY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF HOW PEOPLE TREATED HER.

>> I WAS DIFFERENT.

AND I -- I KNEW IT.

FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED IN THE CLASSROOMS, I WAS TREATED DIFFERENT.

I FELT LIKE ALL EYES ON ME YET NOBODY SAT BY ME, NOBODY WANTED TO BE FRIENDS WITH ME, NOBODY EVEN TOOK INTEREST OF SEEING WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

>> DESPITE THOSE CHALLENGES, SHE SAYS THAT TIME IN HER LIFE MADE HER STRONGER AND CHANGED THE STEREOTYPES THAT EXISTED.

>> NOW THEY SEE ME FOR WHO I AM.

THEY SEE THE UNIQUE SIDE OF ME, HOW SMART I AM.

THEY SEE JUST HOW KIND I AM AND NOW I'M FRIENDS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AT BLENDING AND I BROKE MANY BAIB BARRIERS AND NOW I FEEL BLENDING IS UN FIGHT.

I'M PROUD WHERE I COME FROM AND PROUD OF WHO I AM AND I DIDN'T LET IT PUT ME DOWN.

>> IT'S BRING IT IN, LADIES.

>> ED IS THE HEAD COACH OF THE WOMEN'S TEAM.

IT'S A PROGRAM HE STARTED FROM SCRATCH IN 2016.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BUILT IS NOT ONLY RECRUITING BASKETBALL PLAYERS, BUT STRONG WOMEN, STRONG WOMEN THAT HAVE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS, WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND ACHIEVE, NOT ONLY ON THE BASKETBALL COURT BUT ALSO ACADEMICALLY AS WELL.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL EMBRACES CULTURE.

AND THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM, BECAUSE IN SOME SITUATIONS, THEY'VE EXPERIENCED A PREJUDICE IN THE PAST.

AND I WANT -- I WANTED TO BASICALLY WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE A NEW HORIZON, A NEW OPPORTUNITY, THAT THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, ENJOY COLLEGE LIFE AND THEY CAN ENJOY THEIR BASKETBALL CAREER.

[CHEERING] ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY WEEK CONSIDER EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

THIS MONTH'S DIGITAL FOLKS IS A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, SO BE SURE TO GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT FOR DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES AND EXTRAS THAT EXPLORE THE PEOPLE, STORIES, AND ISSUES THAT SHAPE THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

WITH 16 GROUPS THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND, AND EVEN ONE IN PORTLAND, OREGON, THE MISSION OF ROCK VOICES IS TO HEAL ITS MEMBERS AND OTHERS THROUGH SONG.

THE ADULT, NO-AUDITION COMMUNITY CHOIR WAS FOUNDED IN 2012 BY DIRECTOR TONY LECHNER, AND HAS HELPED MEMBERS DISCOVER THE JOY OF SINGING THEIR FAVORITE ROCK MUSIC AS A COLLECTIVE.

LECHNER AND MEMBERS JULIE SMITH AND KATE PAWUL JOINED ME TO SHARE HOW THIS GROUP HAS IMPACTED THEIR LIVES.

>> WE TOOK OUT AN AD IN THE PAPER, SAYING, WHO WANTS TO SING ROCK AND ROLL.

AROUND 50 PEOPLE SHOWED UP, NONE OF WHOM I MET BEFORE, MAYBE ONE OF THEM I KNEW.

WHY?

IS BECAUSE I HAD SPENT MY LIFE IN MUSIC STUDYING IT AND TEACHING IT, AND HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A -- SOMETHING ABOUT CHORAL MUSIC THAT KEPT EVERYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO DO IT.

IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT OUT OF REACH TO PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN IN OTHER LANGUAGES, YOU OFTEN NEED TO READ MUSIC TO PARTICIPATE.

IT'S A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE, WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE SINGING IS PROBABLY -- IT'S THE OLDEST INSTRUMENT IN EXISTENCE, AND ALL HUMANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

WE'VE EVOLVED TO THIS CAREFUL SETTING ASIDE OF SINGING FOR ONLY CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE.

SO MY WIFE SARAH AND I WERE THINKING WHAT IF THERE WAS A CHOIR FOR SINGING WHATEVER PEOPLE WANT TO SING NOWADAYS, POPULAR MUSIC.

AND WE JUST DID IT ON A WHIM.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT 50 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AFTER THAT FIRST AD WAS PUT IN THE NEWSPAPER.

DID THAT RESPONSE SURPRISE YOU AND HOW HAS THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?

>> YEAH.

IT SURPRISED ME!

THINK IT SURPRISED THEM, TOO, BECAUSE I GOT THERE LATE.

THERE WAS A LINE OUT THE DOOR, 50 PEOPLE WAITING TO GET IN FOR ME TO UNLOCK THE DOOR OF THE BLISS WE WERE RENTING -- BUILDING WE WERE RENTING.

I THINK WE WERE ALL SURPRISED.

I THOUGHT MAYBE FIVE PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP.

MAYBE 100.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> SO AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED TO THE AD, WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GO CHECK OUT WHAT ROCK VOICES WAS, AND WERE YOU ALSO SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP AS WELL?

>> IT WAS A REALLY SMALL AD AND IT JUST SAID, DO YOU LIKE TO SING.

I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE SAID, DO YOU LIKE TO SING IN THE SHOWER.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, YEAH, I LOVE TO SING.

AND I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A CHOIR I COULD JOIN THAT WASN'T -- I DIDN'T WANT TO DO WOMEN'S MUSIC AND I DIDN'T CAN'T TO DO INTERNATIONAL MUSIC.

I WANTED TO SING EXACTLY WHAT TONY SAID, THE SONGS I GREW UP SINGING, THE SONGS I SANG IN MY CAR ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SING ROCK 'N ROLL.

AND THERE JUST WASN'T A CHOIR DOING THAT.

>> I, UNLIKE JULIE, DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LOOKING.

IT JUST -- IT JUST FOUND ME!

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GOING TO CONCERTS ALL MY LIFE.

THAT'S ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

AND I'VE ALWAYS SUNG TO MYSELF.

[LAUGHTER] OR TO ANYBODY WHO'S IN THE CAR WITH ME.

I DON'T READ MUSIC.

I STILL DON'T REALLY READ MUSIC.

DON'T LISTEN.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

AND I FELT LIKE JULIE DID.

JUST GIDDY, GIDDY WITH GLEE THAT WE GOT TO SING ALONG WITH PEOPLE, WITH SONGS THAT WE NEW, SONGS THAT WE'VE GROWN UP, SONGS THAT WE'VE LOVED.

IN A WAY THAT NOBODY WAS GONNA MAKE FUN OF US OR -- OR SAY YOU'RE SINGING THE WRONG PART OR ANYTHING.

¶ [SINGING] ¶ ¶ I WISH NOTHING >> MAY WHO HELPED PICK UP THE CHARGE TO EXPAND ROCK VOICES THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND, IN AN ARTICLE HE SAID THAT THE COMMUNITY RIVALS THE MUSE CAT OF THIS GROUP.

-- MUSE CAT OF THIS GROUP.

AND IN A TIME WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE TOGETHER AS WE ONCE WERE, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE GROUP?

>> IT'S HARD.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T -- WE HAVEN'T BEEN MEETING IN PERSON FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

AND WE'VE CONTINUED ON ZOOM, WHICH IS -- HAS LIMITATIONS.

YOU CAN'T SING IN REALTIME TOGETHER AND HEAR EACH OTHER.

WE'VE KEPT REHEARSALS GOING AS BEST WE COULD.

>> AND YOU ARE STILL MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU'LL BE MAKING A CDC, IF I'M CORRECT.

>> YEAH.

>> -- CD, IF I'M CORRECT.

>> YES.

WE HAVE TOO MANY SONGS FOR ONE CD.

SO NOW IT'S TWO.

WE'VE BEEN PUTTING OUT VIRTUAL FIRE VIDEOS WHICH IS ALL THE RAGE NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

¶ IT'S NOT FAR BACK FROM SANITY ¶ >> WE'VE GOT FOUR FIVE AND A BUNCH IN THE WORKS.

WE FOUNDS -- WE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT INTERESTING AND FUN FOR PEOPLE.

>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING, BACK IN 2013 ROCK VOICES WAS FEATURED ON OUR CHORAL COMPETITION SERIES, TOGETHER IN SONG.

I WORKED ON THAT SHOW AND I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE CAMARADERIE THAT EXISTED WITHIN THE GROUP.

SO KATE AND JULIE AND TONY, TELL ME ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE BUILT AND HOW IT'S HELPED HEAL YOURSELVES AND OTHERS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES IN YOUR LIVES OR EVEN DURING THE GOOD TIME.

>> I THINK IT -- WHEN IT BEGAN, IT WAS REALLY UNDERSTANDING FOR ME THAT I HAD MET MY PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE OF SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE A SILLY JOKE AND SOMEONE ELSE WOULD INEVITABLY FIND A SONG LYRIC THAT MATCHED UP PERFECTLY WITH TASILLY JOKE, THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND TONY WAS THE MASTER OF ALL OF THAT.

SO WE WERE IN THE ROOM WITH THIS GUY WHO PLAYED PIANO AMAZINGLY WELL AND WAS SO GIFTED AND COULD JUST -- YOU KNOW, IN IN SORT OF ROBIN WILLIAMS STYLE, JUST RIF OFF ANYTHING WE THREW AT HIM.

SO HE WAS IMMENSELY ENTERTAINING.

BUT ALSO FROM EACH OF US, WE WERE ENGAGED WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THIS WAY.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE MET YOUR BEST FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW?

YOU DON'T LIKE GO INTO A PLACE THINKING, THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA MEET.

YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE EVEN SOMEWHAT, YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE PAST THAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S AN ADULT CHOIR, RIGHT?

SO WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU GENERALLY THINK OF, I DON'T KNOW, GRADE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND THEN THAT'S IT.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR QUOTE/UNQUOTE WORK FRIENDS.

WHICH AREN'T ALWAYS THE SAME IN YOUR HEAD AND THEY DON'T MAYBE GIVE YOU THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUN THAT YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD, RIGHT?

BUT NOW, THERE IS THIS WHOLE OTHER WORLD THAT OPENED UP WITH ASSOCIATIONS AND A COMMONALITY AND LOVE AND SUPPORT AND -- LIKE JULIE SAID, THERE'S ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUR PEOPLE.

>> IF SOMEBODY OUT THERE IS HESITANT TO JOIN A SINGING GROUP OR THINKS MAYBE MY VOICE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO JOIN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM TO HELP CHANGE THEIR MIND?

>> IF THERE'S EVEN -- EVEN AN EVENING LING THAT YOU WANT TO -- INKLING THAT YOU WANT TO SEE, THIS IS A GROUP THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE SUPPORT.

YOU CAN BLEND IN AND NOT REALLY HEAR YOUR VOICE AMONG ALL THE OTHER VOICES, JUST HEAR THE BLEND, SORE YOU CAN DECIDE, WOW, I WANT TO GO FOR THE SOLO.

AND THE SOLOS ARE AUDITION-BASED.

SO YOU REALLY GET TO CHOOSE HOW MUCH EXPOSURE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH YOURSELF.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER FORMAT FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T QUITE SURE THAN A CHOIR -- THAN ROCK VOICES.

I REALLY CAN'T.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WHEN STEVE SEARS PURCHASED THE STATIONERY FACTORY IN DALTON, MASSACHUSETTS, HIS VISION WAS TO TURN THIS FORMER MILL BUILDING INTO A LANDING SPOT FOR LOCAL ARTISANS, CRAFTSMEN, AND ENTREPRENEURS.

AND WHEN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN FOUND OUT, WHEN HE VISITED WITH THE BUILDING'S NEWEST TENANTS, KSW PRINTING, THAT VISION HAS COME TO FRUITION.

>> IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, OLD BRICK BUILDINGS ARE ABOUT AS COMMON A SIGHT AS THE RIVERS BEHIND THEM.

MANY HAVE FOUND A NEW LEASE ON LIFE BY WAY OF RE-PURPOSING.

BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR, IN DALTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SEEMS TO BE UP AND COMING, WHICH MAY SEEM LIKE AN UNUSUAL WAY TO DESCRIBE A STRUCTURE THAT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD, BUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS 100 SQUARE-FOOT FACTORY WE FIND A BREWERY THAT'S BECOMING ESTABLISHED AND SHEDDING ITS LABEL OF UPSTART.

THERE'S AN ARTIST ENJOYING HIS SECOND ACT FOLLOWING A CAREER IN A COMPLETELY UNRELATED FIELD.

IT'S WHERE A FATHER AND SON GET TO BOND WHILE DOING SOME HIGH-END WOOD WORRYING.

AND THAT'S ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF TENANTS MOVING IN TO THE STATIONERY FACTORY.

THE SECOND FLOOR HERE ALREADY HAS SEVERAL BUSINESSES OPERATING ON IT.

SOME HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, OTHERS FOR JUST A COUPLE.

AND THANKS TO THE ABUNDANCE OF SPACE, THERE'S STILL SOME JUST GETTING STARTED.

AND BY JUST GETTING STARTED, WE MEAN THE PAINT IS STILL DRYING AND THERE ARE LIKELY STILL SOME UNPACKED BOXES.

>> WE MOVED IN FEBRUARY 1ST.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HERE -- LIKE 13, 14 DAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> IT'S A JOINT VENTURE KNOWN AS KSW PRINTING, WERE THE LETTERS STANDING FOR THE OWNS, PAUL KEEL, KYLE, AND QUINN TAIFIOUS WALLS.

THERE'S NO CONFUSION AMONG THE THREE THAT WALLS WAS NOT ONLY THE ONE WITH THE PLAN AND EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO HAD AN EYE OUT FOR THE IDEAL LOCATION.

>> THIS IS THE SPACE I LOOKED AT A LONG TIME AGO.

AND IT WAS ALREADY A SCREEN PRINTING SHOP.

SO IT FIT.

I'VE HAD HOLDING LINES -- I HAD TO PULL OUT OF COLD STORAGE.

IT BAKE A NECESSITY FOR ME TO MAKE MY OWN THINGS INSTEAD OF OUTSCORING THEM.

SO I GAIN -- OUTSOURCING THEM.

SO I GAINED THE BUSINESS.

BECAUSE OF PANDEMIC, I HELPED OUT THE BRANDS OUT.

>> IN A WORLD WHERE BRANDING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PREVALENT, HAVING YOUNG TALENTED ARTISTS ON SITE ONLY HELPS THEIR CAUSE.

PARTNERS KEEL AND SULLIVAN JOINED I BY WAY OF LONG STANDING FRIENDSHIPS.

KEEL AND WALLS HAVING WORKED TOGETHER IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS AND SAN A BASS FISHING BUDDY FOR YEARS.

WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE IS SOMETHING WALLS CALLED THE Q FACT TORE, AN -- FACTOR, AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> ANYTHING I DO I PICK IT UP QUICK.

I'VE DONE CONSTRUCTION.

I'VE BEEN A FORM MARCH FON NORTHERN FOUNDATIONS.

I'VE BEEN THE GENERAL MANAGER AT FIVE GUYS.

A SOUZ CHEF.

LANDSCAPING.

ANYTHING I DO I PICK UP QUIB.

SO IT'S LIKE -- QUICK.

YOU SHOW ME WHAT TO DO, AND THEN FROM THERE I'LL FIGURE IT OUT UNTIL I GET IT RIGHT.

>> GOOD MORAL FIBER WAS A HUGE THING FOR THIS.

WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME.

I'VE TRIED TO HELP PUSH HIS BUSINESS IN THE KIND AND IT CAME TO A POINT WHERE HE NEEDED TO GROW AND HE MADE THE OFFER AND IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I JUMPED ON IT.

>> AT THE TIME OF THIS INTERVIEW, KSW WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS INTO OPERATIONS HERE.

SO THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COMBINING FRIENDSHIP AND BUSINESS REMAIN TO BE SEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

FOR NOW, THE FOCUS IS STRICTLY ON THE BUSINESS END OF THINGS.

>> FOR THIS PRINTING COMPANY, BIG PICTURE IS, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT TO GROW AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

WE WANT TO OBVIOUSLY GET SOME CORPORATE ACCOUNTS, SOME BIGGER.

S, AND WE A LITTLE -- ACCOUNTS, BUT WE WANT TO SERVICE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE A SMALL BUSINESS.

>>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE ARCADIA PLAYERS HAVE BEEN PERFORMING CHAMBER MUSIC THROUGHOUT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE ENSEMBLE RECENTLY WELCOMED A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, TEACH, AND COMPOSER ANDREW ARCECI HAS WORKED AND STUDIED MUSIC THROUGHOUT EUROPE.

I SPOKE WITH HIM AS WELL AS LONG-TIME MEMBERS AICE ROBBINS AND WALTER DENNY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GROUP.

>> ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, MEG OWEN BRANDON THE COLLEGE ORGANIST, DECIDED THAT SHE LIKED TO FOUND A GROUP DEVOTED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF EARLY MUSIC.

THAT IS, MUSIC FROM BEFORE 1750.

AS PART OF A GENERAL MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE AT THAT TIME, TOWARD TAKING A LOOK AT MUSIC THAT HADN'T TRADITIONALLY BEEN PERFORMED VERY MUCH BY GROUPS IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA UP TO THAT TIME.

SO THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE CALLED THE EARLY MUSIC MOVEMENT.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> THERE HAD BEEN CHAMBER ENSEMBLES AROUND, BUT NOT BRAIN -- NOT BRAIN BAROQUE ORCHESTRAS, AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA, WHERES THERE'S QHP WHERE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN BOSTON, NEW YORK, MONTREAL, OTHER CITIES.

BUT HERE IN OUR VALLEY, GOING UP AND DOWN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE GOING ON.

AND MEG HERSELF WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT THIS MUSIC.

>> AND RECENTLY THE ARCADIA PLAYERS HAVE NAMED A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND BEGINNING ON MARCH 1ST, ANDREW, YOU'LL BE TAKING OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE ENSEMBLE.

AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS HISTORY WITH THIS GROUP, AS A PAST PERFORMER, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT IT THAT MADE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION AND HOW DOES IT FEEL TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE?

>> YES, I'VE PLAYED -- AND BASS WITH THE ENSEMBLE ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ALWAYS AS A CONTRACTED PLAYER.

I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE MUSIC MAKING.

AND THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I'VE BEEN DIRECTING PROGRAMS MYSELF AND IT'S UNUSUAL, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY NOT A PROBLEM TO DIRECT FROM ONE OF THESE INSTRUMENTS, BUT IT'S JUST LESS COMMON.

I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT THE ARCADIA PLAYERS TOOK THE APPLICATION SERIOUSLY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I ADVANCED AND I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME DURING THE PROCESS.

I MEAN, IT IT WITH A LONG PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WITH COVID, OF COURSE.

I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ENSEMBLE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL PERFORMANCES FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ARCADIA PLAYERS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR HISTORICAL -- HISTORICALLY INFORMED PERFORMANCES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEERN AND WHAT DOES -- MEAN AND WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

>> IT MEANS USING THE TOOLS THAT ONE HAD AT THE TIME THE MUSIC WAS WRITTEN.

SO NOT PERFORMING AT MODERN PITCH, WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF A PITCH HIGHER THAN WE BELIEVE THEY PERFORMED DURING THE 18TH CENTURY.

AND THE REASON WE KNOW THAT IS BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE A WIND INSTRUMENT, SUCH AS A BAROQUE OBOE, WHICH HAS MANY FEWER KEYS, IT NOT ONLY HAS A DIFFERENT TAM BER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S MADE AND ITS LENGTH, IT VIBRATES AT A LOWER PITCH.

SO TAKING THOSE AS OUR GUIDELINES AND LEARNING TO ENJOY WHAT THE INSTRUMENTS HAVE TO OFFER, NOT TRYING TO MAKE THEM INTO ANOTHER KIND OF SOUND, JUST OPENS UP A LOT OF THINGS FOR ME.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WALTER, YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH DIFFERENT MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS SINCE THE EARLY '60S.

AND YOU ARE THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ARCADIA PLAYERS.

AS SOMEBODY, AN ARTIST WITH DECADES OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, IN THIS ART FORM, HOW DO YOU PRESERVE AND PROMOTE ITS IMPORTANCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, ESPECIALLY FOR EARLY MUSIC AND HISTORICALLY IN PERFORMANCE, IS TO FIND YOUR NEAR NOT ONLY -- NICHE NOT ONLY WITHIN THE BROADER OF CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND WE MEAN MUSIC THAT DEFIES TIME, THAT'S VIBRANT AND POWERFUL AND MOVING NO MATTER WHAT -- IT WAS WONDERFUL 400 YEARS AGO AND IT'S STILL WONDERFUL.

THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN BY CLASSICAL MUSIC.

AND HERE IN THE VALLEY, WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THE COLLEGES AND ALL THE INDEPENDENT MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF WHICH THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT PRESENT CONCERTS, WE HAVE TO FIND OUR OWN PLACE AND DEVELOP OUR OWN AUDIENCE WITHIN THAT SPECTRUM.

IT'S NOT THE EASIEST TASK, BECAUSE OF COURSE, IN SOME WAYS, IT IS A ZERO SOME GAME.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND WHAT WE ARE -- WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 30 YEARS AND WHICH WE HOPE THAT ANDREW IS GOING TO HELP US ADVANCE, IS TO INCREASE OUR CONCERT GOING PUBLIC TO APPEAL TO -- AS ALICE MENTIONED, NOW YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE BECOMING INTERESTED IN THIS THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE FACT, TO GET YOUNGER AUDIENCES.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REDISCOVER OR PLACE, CONTINUE TO REDISCOVER OUR NATION.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE VOANS WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED -- REASONS WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT ANDREW IS GOING TO HELP US DEVELOP OUR APPROACH TO THE FUTURECH THIS EARLY MUSIC -- FUTURE OF THIS EARLY MUSIC MOVEMENT.

>> SO YOU CELEBRATED THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AMAZING MILESTONE.

WHAT DO YOU ALL HOPE FOR CHAMBER MUSIC AND THE ARCADIA PLAYERS FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS TO COME?

>> THERE'S LOTS OF MUSIC OUT THERE TO BE DISCOVERED.

IT'S STILL IN MANUSCRIPT FORM.

IT'S HIDDEN AWAY IN MONASTERIES AND CHURCHES AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS AND LIBRARIES.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO CAPITALIZE ON ALL THESE NEW AND WONDERFUL DISCOVERIES BEING MADE.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN WAITING OF A PERFORMANCE OF A SAINT MATTHEW PASSION BY THE GERMAN COMPOSER TYLA IN A NEW PERFORMING EDITION.

THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF THAT IS VERY OLD, BUT IT'S VERY NEW.

WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING NEW STUFF OUT THERE THAT'S BEING DISCOVERED OR REDISCOVERED.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I'M HOPING THAT THAT REDISCOVERY PROCESS TOGETHER WITH AN INCREASINGLY LARGE AUDIENCE, WE HOPE INCREASINGLY YOUNGER PEOPLE, I HOPE THAT'S WHERE THE FUTURE OF ARCADIA PLAYERS LIES.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> FOR MORE FROM THE ARCADIA PALACIOS, HEAD OVER TO OUR WEB PAGE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA, AS LONG-TIME MEMBERS ALICE ROBBINS AND WALTER DENNY,LES HAVE NEW ANDREW ARCECI, REMINISCE ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THEIR PASSION FOR MUSIC.

>> WHEN I WAS 9 WAS WHEN I FIRST SAW -- [INAUDIBLE].

AND IT JUST CAUGHT MY IMAGINATION.

>> MUSIC IS THE -- IS THE MOST EMOTIONAL, THE MOST INTENSE EXPERIENCE THAT I GET FROM THE ARTS.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPSOLD, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.