Music in Montgomery gears up for fourth anniversary of sharing music and community

MONTGOMERY – Music in Montgomery will celebrate four years of free weekly concerts by local musicians on March 5, announced volunteer organizer and Montgomery resident Dale Rogers.

Now held in Montgomery Town Hall, 161 Main Road, every Thursday afternoon from 3-4:30 p.m. except for holidays, Rogers and a “marvelous team of people,” including Dolly and Dick Painchaud, and Jean Wall and Dennis Wassung, set up the meeting room for the event and the refreshments, mostly cookies, which are brought in by concertgoers. Coffee and tea are also provided by donation. She said every week, other people also offer to help.

“The audience brings the refreshments as donations — cookies and brownies. Coffee and tea are provided by donation, with a tip can for the refreshments. All of the dollars in the tip go to the Montgomery Library for cultural events and to the volunteer Fire Department.” Rogers said the Fire Department has used the donations for equipment and for its annual scholarship named in memory of former Fire Chief Stephen Freye.

Rogers said there is also a tip can for the musicians, who are also supported by donations from the Montgomery Council on Aging.

The musicians come from all over: Montgomery, Southampton, Wyben, Otis, Westfield, Worthington, Holyoke and Easthampton. The music ranges from classical, country, jazz, and rock and roll, with some hymns sprinkled here and there. “The music is all over the place. That’s what’s so interesting — there’s such variety. Sometimes there are original songs in there, too,” she said, although the musicians mostly play standards. “They are all local and very talented musicians.”

They play before an audience ranging from 25 to 40 people on average. While there is a good contingent of regulars from Montgomery, concertgoers also come from all over, many from the same towns as the musicians. She said all ages are welcome, although due to the time of day, many who come are retired. “There is a young mother with her 16-month-old baby that comes regularly. I just look around and see all the happy faces. I love it,” Rogers said.

She said people generally arrive between 2 and 3 p.m. for conversation before the concerts start, because when the music begins, there is no talking. “That’s why the musicians love to come, this is one of their favorite places,” Rogers said.

“Several people told me yesterday they never knew their neighbors until they came to Music in Montgomery, and these are people they’ve been living next door to for decades,” Rogers added.

“People come for sharing community and music, and for the goodies. When they contribute, they are also having the pleasure of giving to the Town Library and the volunteer Fire Department,” Rogers said. “It’s so sweet — the giving ripples out. I love that project.”

Here is the upcoming Concert Schedule: