Singers
■The Southampton Community Chorus is welcoming new members. There are no auditions.
The chorus rehearses every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Southampton Council on Aging, 210 College Highway in Southampton. Concerts are held in December and May.
For more information, call 413-527-3305 or email johnfrancis1111@gmail.com.
■Valley Jazz Voices is holding an open rehearsal on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the community room at Rockridge Retirement, 25 Coles Meadow Road in Northampton.
For more information, email valleyjazzvoices@gmail.com.
■The Greenfield Harmony community chorus is welcoming new members in advance of its spring season, which will begin Feb. 18 and run each Monday evening through May.
The guest teacher this session will be Dr. Kathy Bullock, who will come at the end of April to teach a set of African-American gospel songs to be performed at Greenfield Harmony’s May concert.
To register or for more information, contact Mary Cay Brass by email at mcbrass@vermontel.net.
Musicians
The Fiddle Orchestra of Western Massachusetts welcomes new members for its spring season.
Everyone is welcome; there are no auditions. Rehearsals will be held on Thursday evenings between Jan. 17 and April 11.
The cost to participate is $115 for 12 weeks. To learn more, email fiddlewesternmass@gmail.com.
Poets
The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library are seeking poems for the 28th annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest, which is open to all Franklin County residents and students.
Awards will be given in three categories: first, second and third place in the adult division, and the four top poems in the youth division for ages 12 to 18. (The youth category is divided into age brackets of 12 to 14 and 15 to 18 for judging.) The awards ceremony and poetry reading will take place in April.
The adult first prize winner will receive stewardship of the Poet’s Seat chair, with his or her name on a plaque listing all the previous winners, as well as a handcrafted Poet’s Platter and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. All other winners will receive a handcrafted mug along with a gift certificate to a local bookstore.
Participants may submit up to three poems, with a deadline of March 4. Poets must:
■Number the pages of multi-page poems
■Indicate “Adult” or “Young Poet” on their submissions; Young poets should write and circle their age on the front of the sheet where the poem appears in the lower right-hand corner
■Not include identifying information on the front of sheet
■Not use staples on their works
■Write their name, address, telephone number and email address on the reverse side of each poem
■Submit their works on white paper, with words printed clearly in ink or typed in plain typeface
■Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for notification of receipt of entry, otherwise notification will come via email
Poems will not be returned, and only unpublished poems may be submitted. Previous first-place winners may not submit poems, though top-placing youth poets may resubmit when they enter a new age category.
Entries can be mailed to Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest, Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. For more information, contact Hope Schneider by phone at 413-772-0257 or by email at hopeschneider395@comcast.net.
Actors/Actresses
■Organizers of the annual Mutton and Mead medieval festival are holding auditions for the festival’s shire cast on Feb. 2, 3, 9 and 10, at the Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St. in Montague.
Interested performers are invited to fill out an audition form at muttonandmead.org/our-shire-cast to be scheduled into a time slot at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Drop-in times will be posted the day before each set of auditions.
Callbacks will be held on Feb. 16, and the festival is scheduled for June 15 and 16.
Each cast member plays a character or role from the story of Robin Hood and/or the shire of Nottingham. The characters bring the shire, the fictitious tavern and the story of Robin Hood to life, through coordinated street and stage shows and semi-scripted/improvised interaction with festival patrons. Cast members can also join a number of other singing and dancing ensembles.
Mutton and Mead organizers are also seeking stage and street acts, demonstrators and educators, support crews (set designers, artists and painters, carpenters and skilled builders, and costuming help), vendors (artisans, craftspeople and food vendors), and general administrative help. Visit muttonandmead.org for more details.
■The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Department of Theater is holding joint auditions for its spring productions of Lynn Nottage’s “Sweat” and two plays featured in this year’s Play Lab: “Come, My Beloved” by Emma Weinstein and “Swimming Lessons” by Jared Sarnie and Shazeb Meraj.
Auditions will be held Sunday, Jan. 27, from 3 to 9:30 p.m. at the Curtain Theater in the Fine Arts Center, 151 Presidents Drive in Amherst. Callbacks will be separated by show, with “Sweat” callbacks on Jan. 28, “Come, My Beloved” on Jan. 29 and “Swimming Lessons” on Jan. 30.
Performers from the community and UMass are welcome to audition, and are asked to read the plays before hand. Visit umass.edu/theater/auditions for character breakdowns and sign-up information.
Art
The Sawmill River Arts Gallery is seeking submissions for its annual Small Works Exhibit and Sale, to be held from Feb. 1 to Feb. 25.
Works of all mediums and from artists of all ages will be accepted. Submit two pieces; at least one will be exhibited.
Artists should deliver their work to the gallery at the Montague Bookmill, 440 Greenfield Road in Montague, before Jan. 27, with their applications.
Applications are available at the gallery or online at sawmillriverarts.com. Call 413-367-2885 or 413-695-4684 with questions.
