AMHERST — A recent concert by Amherst Regional High School teachers and students at The Drake not only collected needed money for the public schools’ performing arts program, but brought families together for an evening.

Organized by Yasu Suzuki, the orchestra director at the middle school and high school, the concert on Feb. 9 by the Yasu Suzuki-Method performed a mix of rock cover songs and originals, with high school science teacher Nick Shaw on drums and students on strings and horns. The event drew about 120 people and raised $1,500.

Suzuki said the event came about after his band, which has been playing at places including Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton and Progression Brewing in Northampton, was at the Garlic & Arts Festival in Orange last fall. That prompted Suzuki to recognize the opportunity to play an Amherst venue, as well as to incorporate students.

“I am extremely lucky to have a group of highly talented students who are committed to music,” Suzuki said.

The event, also facilitated by the Friends of the Performing Arts, will use the money to repair and replace damaged instruments.

“Now I can focus on repairing school instruments to make sure that we have enough instruments for everyone who cannot afford to buy or rent,” Suzuki said, adding that there are many dysfunctional string instruments in the district. Repairing four school cellos, for instance, can cost nearly $500.

Suzuki also noted that money is always needed for bus trips to auditions and music festivals.

Gabrielle Gould, who oversees The Drake in her capacity as executive director of the Downtown Amherst Foundation, said the space and production manager and staff were donated for the evening.

“Part of building The Drake was to build our community,” Gould said. “Hosting this event really shows what the space can be: a safe place for all to come and enjoy live music.”

Gould noted that John Bechtold, who chairs the schools’ performing arts department, offered input when the venue was being built out about possible uses for local students.

“I feel strongly that allowing kids to perform outside of the comfort of their own auditorium and for an audience that is not just their supporters is important to their growth as musicians,” Gould said.

The Drake has previously hosted high school jazz nights and cabaret.

Those interested in the Friends organization can visit amherstfpa.org for more information.

Historic preservation plan

Amherst is seeking input from residents about what is most valued about the town’s history and cultural heritage.

An 18-question survey online will give people an opportunity to offer their say and inform an update of the Amherst Historic Preservation Plan being drafted by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in partnership with the town’s Planning Department and Historical Commission.

To access the survey in English or Spanish and complete it by April 30, go to either https://forms.gle/qmZ2UYpn7uH5UqHd8 or https://tinyurl.com/2p8rh3zy.

Book collecting with Ken Gloss

Kenneth Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston, will give an in-person presentation on the value of old and rare books Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Jones Library.

A rare book specialist and appraiser who is frequently seen on national television, Gloss will discuss growing up in the book business, show some of his favorite finds, and explain how he appraises books and manuscripts.

Gloss will also provide free oral appraisals of books that participants have on hand.

The free program is sponsored by the library and the Amherst Historical Society. For more information, contact Janet Ryan at 259-3223.

Woman’s Club talk

“The Impact Insects Have on Human Culture, Past and Present” is the title of a talk by John Stoffolano, a retired faculty member in the Entomology Department at the University of Massachusetts, on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Amherst Woman’s Club on Triangle Street.

The talk will be followed by tea and conversation.

LitFest

Amherst College’s eighth annual LitFest, celebrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry and spoken word performance, takes place Feb. 23-26.

Among those authors participating are Pulitzer Prize winner Hilton Als, MacArthur Fellowship winner Valeria Luiselli, and Meghan O’Rourke and Ingrid Rojas Contreras, both of whom were 2022 National Book Award finalists.

Meetings

WEDNESDAY: Residents Advisory Committee, 2 p.m., and African Heritage Reparation Assembly, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 1 p.m., and Council on Aging presentation on age and dementia friendly project, 5 p.m.

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