The Berks Sinfonietta returns to one of Pennsylvania’s most iconic natural settings for the sixth consecutive year on Saturday, June 13, at 2:00 pm. The ensemble will perform both well-known classics and regional premieres at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s outdoor amphitheater. Purchase tickets.
“This year’s program includes some fabulous, but lesser-known repertoire,” says Artistic Director David McConnell, “including 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 includes Vaughan Williams’ “Harnham Down,” an early work that 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.
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.”
Program Highlights
The program has been selected to complement the natural splendor of Hawk Mountain, blending beloved classical staples with works that echo the spirit of the landscape.
- Vaughan Williams — Harnham Down, Impression 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
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Rain Date: Sunday, June 14 at 2pm
Location: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Rd, Kempton, PA
Email: info@berkssinfonietta.org
Website: www.berkssinfonietta.org