09/15/2026
LuluFest Berkshires 2026 is proud to feature pianist/composer and LuluFest founder Peggy Stern Saturday, September 19, at Church on the Hill / United Church of Christ in Lenox! Tickets at www.lulu-fest.com
Peggy has composed, played, recorded, and toured in a wide variety of situations: from solos to octets to jazz choruses. Her compositions range from highly original pieces to reharmonized jazz standards. “Everything she writes wants to dance, ” says Ken Dais of Jazziz.
Peggy’s background would account for her varied musical tastes. She began playing classical piano at an early age, continuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music, and finishing a Masters Degree, still in Classical music, at the New England Conservatory. And then she began to improvise. While living in San Francisco, she played in salsa bands, notably Azteca and Supercombo with Benny Vallarde. She did a stint in an R&B band (called Cat’s Cradle) with singer Linda Tillery, and was “instructed” by Paul Jackson (bass) and Mike Clark (drums) of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunter band.
Subsequently, Peggy moved to New York, absorbing the piano stylings of the greats, such as Jimmy Rowles and Tommy Flanagan. Peggy has worked and toured with many wonderful musicians: Lee Konitz, Diane Schuur, David “Fathead” Newman, Jay Clayton, Gary Peacock, Gene Bertoncini, Bud Shank, Red Holloway, Thomas Chapin, Machito, Puck Fair, Bobby Shew, Stanley Turrentine, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie Henderson, Emily Remler, to name a few.
In 2004, Peggy created the Wall Street Jazz Festival ("where the traditions meet the progressives, and all the leaders are women") in Kingston, NY; the Festival was held twelve consecutive years to date. In 2017 Peggy introduced LuluFest, an eclectic music festival again featuring women leaders.
Facebook event: LuluFest Berkshires 2026
Photo by KTYarbrough Photography
