2025 Reunion, Assembly & Community Day
With 2025 Windsor Mountain School Reunion in September and our after Thanksgiving Zoom Assembly behind us let’s reflect on the last fifty years since WMS closed in Lenox, as well as, reflecting on the impact on all of us of the Bondy education and community experiment. Furthermore be thankful that Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) continues to maintain our beautiful campus, allowing us, when we are able, to have Reunions there. So this post will be a year end report featuring 50th wedding anniversaries of our alums the Frenkels and the Vedros, a new engraved bench near the Theater dedicated to WMS, and how we can support BUTI, especially their scholarship program for young musicians.
REUNION: Over 60 alums came to the September 13th Reunion. The weather, a very important element of any event, was perfect as we gathered on the back lawn at eleven. We all enjoyed a Potluck feast, a theme perfected by Betsy Ryan who sadly was unable to come, but remembered fondly. Our regular and new musicians provided a serenade, as old friends, classmates, and spouses conversed. We were joined by Valerie Williams, BUTI operations director and our host, who lead us to the pathway to the Theater for the unveiling of our bench commemorating WMS. We had hoped that Maurice would be able to make the dedication, but since he was unable, I read a message he sent for the occasion. See more, including the dedication, by going to the “Reunions” tab (click here).
ZOOM ASSEMBLY: When Covid made it impossible to have Reunions in Lenox we turned to going on Zoom to gather annually. This year with more and more us unable to travel to get to Reunions in person, this has been an ever more popular method to stay connected. Because I am not very proficient with online meetings, given I am mostly retired, I am happy to say we have alums who are. So future Zoom Assemblies are promised to run better and with more than a 40 minute limit. That said here is a recording of our November 30 meeting (click here).
SUPPORT BUTI: Let me start by saying I know our relationship with BUTI has had ups and downs, as has BUTI throughout its 60 years of leadership, however, we have succeeded in having many Reunions since our school closed on campus. This is pretty amazing considering that most schools of that era have not, as for most their campuses, they no longer exist as they were. Given that, we are truly fortunate to visit our campus with most of the grounds and buildings as they were, and be welcomed to have a chance to reunite every year or so there. But I would add there is more too. BUTI summer music program is not so dissimilar to WMS idea of education and community … something I saw this past August when they opened the campus for “Community Day.” Let share just a few of the concerts I experienced. Near the Tennis Courts was a Brass Quintet (click here), in the Library was Jazz duo (click here), and out front was a classical vocalist (click here). Today is December “Giving Day” so perhaps, regardless of the time of year, in the spirit and memory of WMS you may want to help support BUTI and their Scholarship Program so they can continue in Lenox (click here).