The 19th annual Berkeley (CA) Festival and Exhibition (BFX) was held this summer from June 6 - 14, 2026, produced by the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS).

American Recorder Society members participated in a number of concerts during the festival and fringe concerts, and staffed a table in the Exhibition.

Over the course of nine days, BFX concerts were offered by local, national and international artists. The Bay Area baroque ensemble, Musica Pacifica, presented a Mainstage concert which included recorderist Judy Linsenberg. The San Francisco early music ensemble, Voices of Music, featured Hanneke van Proosdij on recorder.

Recorders were also featured in a number of the Fringe's independently-produced concerts by soloists and ensembles from around the world.

The Barbary Coast Recorder Orchestra (BCRO), co-directed by Greta Haug-Hryciw and Glen Shannon, presented their BFX reprise of the 15th season concert "Moodscapes" on Monday June 8th.

The 2026 American Recorder Society Recorder Relay followed the BCRO performance, with two more hours of recorder music during the continuous "relay-style" performances by local amateur ensembles. This popular event showcased local groups and outstanding recorder talent. Performances included solo work and consorts, classical works and contemporary pieces—just about anything an audience might want to hear. Following the Relay, ARS Music Editor Glen Shannon, ARS President Jody Miller, and former ARS board member Greta Haug-Hryciw led the audience in a play-in. (pictured left to right)

At the start of this year's Relay, ARS Board President Jody Miller noted the special recognition of Mark Davenport as this year's recipient of the ARS Presidential Honor Award for his extraordinary contribution to the North American recorder community.

Also on June 8th, the Seattle Historical Arts for Kids returned to the Berkeley festival for the first time since 2018, including four recorder-playing sisters playing a movement of the Heinichen 4-recorder concerto and a concluding tutti set of Handel dances that left the audience grinning from ear to ear.

On June 11th, The prize-winning Brazilian recorder duo, DuElo Barroco, performed duets by Telemann and Boismortier on recorder and traverso.

Recorders were also included in performances by the Women's Antique Vocal Ensemble on June 9th and the Memorial Concert for Sally Blaker. Sally was the mother of recorderist Frances Blaker, a well-known recorder performer and teacher and former ARS board member.

A more complete review of the concerts can be found in the Fall 2026 issue of American Recorder magazine.

The three-day BFX Exhibition featured dozens of national and international makers and sellers of historical instruments, music scores, books and other items. (top photo: Gerry Leatherman, Leatherman Woodwinds, with Miyo Aoki trying a great bass recorder) ARS was represented at a table staffed by volunteers at the Exhibition (Joe Ungerer pictured), with fun giveaway items like ARS pencils and travel toothbrushes as well as a gorgeous handmade tote bag with embroidered graphics commemorating the ARS and SFEMS for 2026, created by ARS board member David Benefiel.

We can look forward to participation in next summer’s Boston Early Music Festival, and a return to Berkeley in 2028!