Buffalo United Community Choir

Members Portal

We lift our voices in song as ONE community.

BUCC Artistic Directors
Ella Robinson, Karen Saxon and George Brown

Administrated by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Robin Parkinson, VP, Education & Community Engagement
with support from the BPO Diversity Council

For questions, contact Robin: email rparkinson@bpo.org or call (716) 242-7808

Congratulations to our director, Karen Saxon for her selection as one of the recipients of the BPO Diversity Council IDEA Award!

Also, congratulations to our director Ella Robinson for her selection for a Black Music Month Conference Award! 

We ask that all past members and all potential new members commit to our requirements for participation. In order to participate in 2024, please read through and submit our Commitment Form, linked below, by June 11, 2024.  Even if you are a regular BUCC member, you MUST sign our commitment form to continue.

 

As we grow within the BUCC, we want to make sure we continue to put our best foot forward as we progress as a choir within our community.  With that being said, there are certain expectations we EXPECT every member to meet. We ask members to commit to the following:

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required at all rehearsals and ALL announced concerts. We ask that you miss no more than 2 rehearsals per concert. We also ask that you commit to the choir, not to individual concerts.  If you are unable to participate in a concert, we want you to still attend rehearsals so that you learn the music with the group, as the BUCC will often perform music on more than one concert.

PREPARATION: Music review and preparation is paramount for all rehearsals and events. We ask that you review and prepare your parts before you come to rehearsal so that our time together can be spent on ensemble work, not learning parts. We also ask that you bring your music with you to all rehearsals so you are ready to sing.

COMMUNICATION: Any plans/schedule conflicts for missed engagements should be communicated to Robin Parkinson at rparkinson@bpo.org or (716) 242-7808.

A Message from our Artistic Directors:

For our Black History Program on Friday, February 16th, 2024, we had to make the unfortunate decision to cut a song from the program for no reason other than preparation.  As directors, we do our best to make sure the choir is prepared to step in front of any audience we will fellowship with, but each member must take responsibility as well- it is the only way for continued success.  Through much prayer and discussion, we have decided to ask each member to re-commit themselves and any new members to make a formal commitment to making this choir what we know it can be to represent the city of Buffalo.  We want to make sure that any artist working with us knows that Buffalo, NY is ALWAYS PREPARED and our music ministry is second to none. This commitment includes attendance, communication and most importantly, preparation.  Above, we have outlined the requirements for the 2024 season. We will evaluate at the end of the season and present updated requirements as needed as we enter each new season at the BUCC.

We have also found that numbers are low for programs outside of the headline program in October at Kleinhans.  This doesn’t allow us to build the level of consistency we are looking for and it also doesn’t allow for continuity within the group. We were at our max last year for the concert with Donald Lawrence and we had half of that for our February Black History program.  We understand that life gets in the way sometimes, but communication and consistency is key.

We thank you for your commitment to the Buffalo United Community Choir!

 

Auditions
Auditions for 2024 are now closed. Check back in 2025!

Gospel Symphony Celebration with Tramaine Hawkins
Friday, October 18, 2024 @ 7:30pm – call time 6:30pm
Kleinhans Music Hall

Concert Dress: black suit, white shirt, black tie OR all black dress/skirt, long sleeves, single strand of pearls optional

Rehearsals @ St. Martin de Porres Church, 555 Northampton St.

August 6, 7-9pm
August 20, 7-9pm
September 3, 7-9pm
September 17, 7-9pm
September 24, 7-9pm
October 1, 7-9pm
October 8, 7-9pm

Rehearsals @ Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle

October 16, 7:30-10pm, call time 6:30pm
October 17, 7:30-10pm (with full orchestra), call time 6:30pm

Repertoire:

Edward Turrentine Jr., Break Forth Praise
Walter Hawkins, Holy One
Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Potter’s House
Walter Hawkins, Goin Up Yonder
Kurt Carr, Peace and Favor Rest on Us
Kurt Carr, I Never Lost My Praise
Quincy Fielding, What Shall I Do
Walter Hawkins, Changed
Ella Robinson, Deliver Me
Ella Robinson, Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
Edwin Hawkins, Oh Happy Day