Mozart on the Mountain: Berks Sinfonietta returns to perform June 13

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and the Berks Sinfonietta will present the 6th annual Music on the Mountain, a live presentation of classical selections on Saturday, June 13 at 2 PM in the Sanctuary’s accessible Amphitheater. The Sinfonietta will perform selections that celebrate the outdoors and the changing seasons that occur in early June. This year’s program will also feature three regional premieres, including the work of Amy Beach, a noted woman composer, which is the group’s way of celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary this year.

Admission costs $20 for Hawk Mountain Members and $25 for non-members, available to buy online here. Ticketholders may bring their own folding chairs or blanket, and a musician mixer with a live raptor and light refreshments will be provided inside the Visitor Center immediately following the event. 

The Sinfonietta will present a program filled with expressive works in the serene mountain setting. The concert opens with Mendelssohn’s Overture: The Fair Melusine and will then feature three regional premieres: Mel Bonis’ Suite en forme de valses, Amy Beach’s Romance, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Harnham Down, Impression for Orchestra. After intermission, the concert will come to a powerful close with Mozart’s well-known Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.

“This year’s Music on the Mountain concert continues a wonderful partnership with Berks Sinfonietta and offers guests a unique opportunity to enjoy world-class music in a beautiful outdoor setting,” says Sanctuary President Sean Grace. “Our Amphitheater provides the perfect space to relax and enjoy an afternoon of music while also supporting two local non-profit organizations.”

Music on the Mountain is made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship by Dr. and Mrs. Barton Smith and Susan H. Smith, and the program will be held in memory of William I. Smith, Jr., M.D.  

Berks Sinfonietta is a nonprofit chamber orchestra serving the Reading and Berks County communities. Its mission is to expand the appreciation for, and to promote the art of classical music. As a local ensemble, the orchestra consists exclusively of musicians from the community, ranging in skill level from students and talented amateurs to area professionals.