On Saturday, June 13th, 2026, on an idyllic summer afternoon, Berks Sinfonietta presented its sixth consecutive year of performances, returning to one of Pennsylvania’s most iconic natural settings at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s outdoor amphitheater. The amphitheater and the wooded grounds surrounding it were filled to the brim with patrons eager to enjoy this year’s carefully selected repertoire.
The group’s mission of taking a “road less traveled” approach to their programs, focuses on performing works of composers whose music has been passed over or absent from standard repertoires for centuries. This mission has brought some of the most beautiful music out from the shadows and into the limelight to appreciative audiences which continue to grow with each passing year.
“This year’s program included some fabulous, but lesser-known repertoire,” explains Artistic Director, David McConnell, “which included three regional premieres, two of them by women; Amy Beach and Mel Bonis. Beach’s ‘Romance’ is a lovely work, lyrical and deeply touching. She is an American composer whose brilliance, almost a century after her death, is finally being recognized.”
The program also included Vaughan Williams’s “Harnham Down”, an early work which his estate had prevented from being performed until the ban was recently lifted. “The music is an evocative aural picture of the Wiltshire countryside, and it feels particularly apt for performance at Hawk Mountain,” adds McConnell.
The program’s musical selections reflected a careful pairing of music with the natural setting in which it was performed. “There is a standard repertoire that people thrive on, and musicians are accustomed to performing. I was very happy with the program that I came up with, which aligns with our mission. The first four pieces were all unknown, and I give a great deal of credit to the group for bucking down and learning them.”
Program Highlights included:
- Vaughan Williams – Harnham Down, Impressions for Orchestra
- Amy Beach – Romance for Violin and Orchestra
- Felix Mendelssohn – Overture: The Fair Melusine, Op. 32
- Mel Bonis – Suite en forme de valses
- W.A. Mozart – Symphony No. 40 in G minor
“Music on the Mountain” has a story that reaches back to 1958 when a sixth grader at Twelfth and Greenwich Elementary School in Reading, named William “Bill” Smith asked his brother Barton, an Albright College junior, to attend Matthew Spence’s birding course at the Reading Public Museum. The experience sparked a lifetime of birding and a connection to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for the young man. Sixty years later, Barton suggested to Dr. David McConnell that he bring the Berks Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra to Hawk Mountain. William Smith, Jr. M.D. played the flute very well as a child and had a lifelong interest in all genres of music. The 2026 concert at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary marks the sixth year of the performance and stands as a tribute to William I. Smith, Jr. M.D. who passed away in 2025. The concert was generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Barton Smith and Susan H. Smith in Memory of Dr. William I. Smith, Jr.
Sinfonietta co-founder, James Gilmer, notes that for the sixth year in a row, the Hawk Mountain performance “has become one of our audience’s most beloved concerts. We are so grateful to the Smith family for their generosity, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary board and staff for their hospitality, and to the audience members for coming out and making each year an even greater success.”
Berks Sinfonietta is a chamber orchestra committed to presenting innovative, inclusive, and artistically compelling performances. Bringing together homegrown musicians of all ages, professionals, educators, students and dedicated amateurs, the ensemble reimagines repertoire from the Baroque era to today, with a special emphasis on works by women, composers of color, and historically underrepresented voices. Through its concerts and educational outreach, Berks Sinfonietta enriches the cultural life of Berks County, and brings people together to foster deeper appreciation of the transformative power of music.
Reflections on the concert
Patron – 89-year-old Ruth Terwilliger, a classically trained pianist originally from Pottsville, and now living at Providence Place in Pine Grove, sat right in front with the orchestra and became fully immersed in the performance. Her son and daughter-in-law Neil and Vicki from Sacramento, Pa. expressed how thrilled they were to have the opportunity to attend this open-air concert of beautiful music together.
Chamber Orchestra Member – Michael Fries – French Horn – 5-year member – “It is such a beautiful setting here, and it was great to play for such an appreciative audience.”
Patrons – Long-time members of Hawk Mountain and former dorm mates at Lehigh University, Judy Obetz, and Carolyn Marconis met to enjoy the concert together. “The concert was awesome, beautiful music and a beautiful setting.”
For concert schedules and more information, visit Berks Sinfonietta at www.berkssinfonietta.org