Upcoming Performance: Saturday, December 6, Noon-1:30 pm at the Hancock Shaker Village (Pittsfield, MA) in the barn. We are singing at the Festival of Trees – Barn to be Wild event.

News Archive

Thanks to all of our sponsors, all those who attended, and everyone who assisted to make our performance on October 16, 2025 at the Spectrum Playhouse a success!

Summer/Fall 2025

Summer is a great time to visit and learn more about singing 4-part, a capella harmony with the Berkshire Hills Chorus. Email us at berkshirehillschorus@gmail.com to find out about stopping by for a rehearsal (Tuesday nights, 6:30-8:30 in Pittsfield).

News archive

September, 2024: Announcing our new director, Sunhwa Reiner

The Berkshire Hills Chorus is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sunhwa Reiner as its new Music Director. With a passion for choral music and a commitment to fostering a vibrant musical community, Sunhwa Reiner brings a wealth of experience and fresh energy to the chorus. After 11 years of devoted service, former Directors Gail Wojtkowiak and Pat Feldman will be stepping back onto the risers and participating in the chorus as singers going forward.

Sunhwa Reiner is a seasoned music professional with a diverse background in choral direction, vocal and piano performance, and music education. Her experience includes producing and directing musicals, teaching K-12 music classes and private lessons, directing music and songwriting workshops, and collaborating with community groups. She is also a recipient of the “40 Under 40” Berkshire County Award, awarded in recognition for her music education and community engagement accomplishments. As the Berkshire Hills Chorus prepares for its upcoming season, Reiner’s vision will guide the ensemble in exploring new musical landscapes while honoring the rich traditions of the chorus.

“We are incredibly excited to have Sunhwa Reiner join us as our new Music Director,” said Leslie Murray, President of the Berkshire Hills Chorus. “Her talent and enthusiasm are contagious, and we believe she will inspire our members to reach new heights on their musical journey.”

The Berkshire Hills Chorus, a women’s barbershop chorus based in Pittsfield, MA, has a long-standing tradition of musical excellence. For over fifty years, the chorus has been engaging audiences with a cappella performances in the Berkshires and beyond.

In celebration of this new chapter, the Berkshire Hills Chorus extends a warm invitation to new members to join the group. Whether you’re an experienced singer or simply someone who loves to sing, the chorus welcomes all women singers to audition. Rehearsals are held weekly, providing a supportive environment for members to develop their vocal skills, make lasting friendships, and experience the joy of singing together. 

The Berkshire Hills Chorus looks forward to a bright future under Sunhwa Reiner’s direction and invites the community to be a part of their musical journey.

Inclusivity

We, the members of the Berkshire Hills Chorus, lift our voices to express our solidarity with those working to rectify the damages to Black lives  and the lives of people of color caused by systemic racial inequalities. We acknowledge and regret that, although our craft of barbershop harmony is rooted in African American culture, Sweet Adelines chapters in decades past actively excluded Black women. In addition, scant attention was devoted to assessing the repertoire, with an eye toward rejecting any songs containing racist lyrics or tainted by racist histories.

We are glad to see this official, unanimously approved announcement by Sweet Adelines International: “…Sweet Adelines International rejects any song with racist lyrics, messages or history, and we consider them unacceptable for performance in any setting.”

In addition, we stand in unity with The Scottsdale Chorus of Sweet Adelines, which has promised to actively uphold racial inclusivity and promote diversity throughout the organization. Our beloved chapter, Berkshire Hills Chorus, has been a leader in ensuring that members are not excluded due to financial hardship; because of our efforts to reduce costs to members and provide financial assistance to those who need it, our membership includes women from a variety of financial backgrounds, occupations, and age groups. We now pledge to devote more energy to learning how to promote racial diversity among our members, and we look forward to raising our voices together with our new sisters in harmony.

The Berkshire Hills Chorus sang as part of the Four Freedoms events at the Colonial Theater on January 12. For information about visiting or becoming a member, email us at: berkshirehillschorus@gmail.com.