Lifestyle, News

Hancock Arts Council makes instrument donation, sets calendar of upcoming events

by Geoff Fox

The Hancock Arts Council has been busy recently with donations and planning events for the next few months.

Recently, on behalf of the Hancock Arts Council, Phil Edwards and Sinclair Hamilton donated an amplifier and guitar to the BlackCat Music Cooperative’s instrument and equipment library, which lets students use items for learning and performing.

BlackCat, whose mission is “empowering youth through music,” provides lessons for children and adults in many instruments and styles.

Mike Klingerman accepted the amp and guitar on behalf of BlackCat. Klingerman is one of the music teachers at the cooperative and gives lessons in many different instruments.

Phil Edwards recently donated an amplifier, being held by Mike Klingerman, to the BlackCat Music Cooperative in Berkeley Springs. The guitar Edwards is holding was donated by Sinclair Hamilton. Both donations were made on behalf of the Hancock Arts Council and accepted by Klingerman who teaches at the cooperative and gives lessons in a variety of instruments. Photo submitted by the Hancock Arts Council.

Klingerman also hosts an open acoustic jam at the BlackCat on the third Friday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m.

Arts events

The Hancock Arts Council is also planning a number of events in the near future. The Halloween Spooktacular will be held next Sunday, October 18 in the Hancock Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m.

On November 29, the Hancock Arts Council Band will perform on Hancock’s Main Street for the tree lighting during Main Street Hancock’s Miracle on Main Street event.

On December 12, there will be a Christmas Sing Along at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.

The following day, December 13, at 2 p.m., there will be a reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” also at the Performing Arts Center.

Hamilton said there are a few other events in the planning stages such as line dancing, a community dance (including square dancing with live music), and a ceramic workshop for children.