MISSION STATEMENT
At BAAMS, we believe — for any musician of any level or age — musical expression is an extension of oneself, and the musical instrument or voice is an amplifier for what the player is hearing, thinking, and feeling. Young students who attend BAAMS’ will learn to play an instrument or instruments, and to create music as performers, improvisers, and composers.
Musical expression is an extension of oneself, and the musical instrument or voice is an amplifier for what the player is hearing, thinking, and feeling.
BAAMS’ students will be taught by ability. BAAMS will empower area youth and young adults with a means to not only express themselves musically and artistically, honing their talents, but also to interact and collaborate with other musicians and artists, encouraging mentoring and collaborative relationships. Our students will be able to connect their own life experiences with their unique musical-artistic expression.
Utilizing music, art, and technology, students will develop knowledge and skills as musical instrumentalists as well as composers, improvisers, and recording artists. Additionally, we believe the best way to cement learning is to teach what you have been taught. More experienced students will often be invited to assist and support instruction of newer/less experienced students, thereby planting the seed for future music educators.
OUR HISTORY & PROMISE
The story of BAAMS is one of serendipity, dedication, and promise. It’s a story about professionals meeting, becoming friends, and working together to make good things happen for young music students. Several of our music faculty, along with organizers and parents of students who attended the Berkshires’ Summer Jazz Band Day Camp found they shared a passion for bringing great opportunity to the Berkshires, and beyond.
After hosting four successful Berkshires’ Summer Jazz Day Camps in 2018, 2019, and 2020 — enthusiastically received by the region’s families and young musicians — in which Richard brought fellow musicians and music educators from around the country and world to the Northern Berkshires to teach for one week, it became clear there was a demand for more. Why not provide similar learning opportunities throughout the school year? Imagine the progress students could make with more regular training and practice!? Why not an academy for students with the desire to learn such as those who were fortunate enough to attend camp?
After much organization work, BAAMS became a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a reglistered public charity, and received its 501(c)(3) tax-free status as of April, 2020. The promise made has been kept having come through the pandemic by offering all our instruction online for two years. The 5th Berkshires’ Summer Jazz Band Day Camp will be held August 14-18, 2023! Regular after-school instruction resumed in person at the new BAAMS’ academy location at Building 6, Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Furnace Street, North Adams, Mass. in the Fall of 2022, and continues.
Leadership
Richard Boulger, Founder, Executive Director, Artistic Director
North Adams native, longtime NYC musical artist and educator, Richard Boulger received the legacy of trumpet playing and teaching from his father, Richard Boulger, Sr. Richard has since spent a lifetime studying the art forms of playing the trumpet and flugelhorn with a ‘Who’s-Who’ list of jazz and musical giants, as well as music composition, and improvisation.
After completing his BFA from The Hartt School of Music’s Jackie Mclean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford, and Master’s degree at Rutgers University, Boulger became a long-time private student and protege’ of both Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd, and studied musical composition extensively with Ludmila Uhlela (former chair of Contemporary Music, Manhattan School of Music). He also studied trumpet privately with William “Prof” Fielder, Laurie Frink, Jerome Callet, (many others) as well as jazz luminaries Jaki Byard, Charlie Banacos, George Coleman, Walter Bishop, Jr., Richie Beirach, Ben Shwendener, and many others.
Boulger produced numerous albums as a leader and recorded with several diverse Grammy- and award-winning artists such as The Allman Brothers’ Band, Little Louie Vega, “Joe,” Randy Brecker, Steve Davis, Joshua Thompson, and John Hicks. Freddie Hubbard declared, “I am very happy and honored to be a witness to a great trumpet player!”
In addition to his published music education works (Downbeat Magazine, Hal Leonard Publications, Charles Colin Music, etc.) Richard Boulger has taught and consulted with over 25 NYC school music programs, spent a decade teaching his “All-Star Band” at Brownsville’s PS 178 and continues to be an active band clinician and consultant. He is also the founder of the Berkshires’ Summer Jazz Band Day Camp, and teaches private students via Skype and in person in midtown Manhattan as well as at his Brooklyn, New York teaching studio.
Alex Foster, Co-Director of Music, Saxophones/Woodwinds, Studio Lab Band
Alex Foster, tenor and alto saxophonist, is a musical heavyweight famous for his nearly three decades of performances with the “Saturday Night Live” House Band is also a musical director of the Mingus Big Band. From Oakland, California, Alex Foster has been part of many of the world’s most influential sounds. Foster has shared the stage with world-class performers including Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Freddie Hubbard, Nat and Cannonball Adderley, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gil Evans, John Scofield, Charles Mingus, Elvin Jones, Thad Jones, Tito Puente, Michael Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, Dr. John, Paul Simon, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eddie Van Halen, The Village People, Sister Sledge, Al Green, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross, and many others. Foster has had his work with the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and the Mingus Big Band nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005. A woodwinds instructor, Foster is also a master player of the clarinet and flute and teaches in master-class workshops up and down the east coast to students from middle school through college.