Buffalo Philharmonic seeks to raise $30,000 in 30 days for first international tour in 30 years

BUFFALO, NY – With less than seven weeks until the Buffalo Philharmonic departs for Poland, a fundraising challenge has been set.

Longtime BPO friends and supporters Cindy and Francis Letro have challenged the BPO to raise $30,000 in 30 days for the orchestra’s first international tour in 30 years. Cindy, BPO Board member and Poland Tour Ambassador, led the BPO’s successful trip to New York City for the Carnegie Hall concert in 2013.

The Letros will match challenge contributions dollar for dollar up to $30,000. The challenge begins on February 1 and concludes on March 2. Those who participate will be entered to win a prize package including an autographed copy of the not-yet-released “Treasures of Poland” CD, a Poland tour hat produced by New Era Cap, and a voucher for two tickets to any concert in the 2017-18 season. Anyone wishing to take part in the challenge by donating to the tour can visit bpo.org or call (716) 242-7826.

“Undertaking a tour of this magnitude is a huge endeavor; sending 100 musicians and staff members to Poland – not to mention all of the instruments – is a monumental venture, ” said Daniel Hart, BPO Executive Director. “We are grateful to the Letros for this challenge gift. There has been an outpouring of support already from the community, and we invite the public to be a part of it and help the orchestra meet this challenge and fulfill its role as Buffalo’s cultural ambassador to the world.”

The BPO is performing at the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the invitation of Elzbieta Penderecka, the founder and artistic director of the festival. The BPO be the first full American orchestra to perform at the festival, and Maestro JoAnn Falletta will be the first American woman to ever take the festival’s podium.  The invitation to perform at the Beethoven Festival inspired the BPO to launch its first international tour in 30 years. In addition to the concert in Warsaw, the orchestra will perform in Wroclaw, Katowice, and Lublin. An ensemble will perform in Luslawice and in Buffalo’s Sister City, Rzeszów.

Opportunities to sponsor individual musicians, instruments, or sections are available. Call (716) 242-7826 for more information. On March 10 and 11, the BPO will perform the tour program at Kleinhans. A pre-concert sendoff toast will take place at 7 p.m. on March 10, and is open to all concert attendees. For tickets to this event, visit bpo.org.

The Poland tour’s lead sponsor is John and Carolyn Yurtchuk. Poland Tour Leaders are: Cindy Abbott Letro and Francis Letro; ABC-Amega, Inc.; Aleron; Mark Chason and Mariana Botero-Chason; Robert and Carol Morris; Victor and Corinne Rice; and Jim and Michal Wadsworth. Poland Tour Champions are: The Baird Foundation; IBM; Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation; and Rich Products. Poland Tour Community Partners are: Anthony Baldi and Associates; The Bolton Family; Chuck and Lisa Boulange; Brian Parisi Copier Systems;  Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus; Mark Cerrone; Computer Task Group; Curbell Medical; Dash’s Market; Anthony and Kathy Diina; Robert and Julia Garra; Gurney Becker and Bourne; Dan and Barbara Hart; Iroquois Bar Corp.; KeyBank; Ronald Luczak; The Honorable Judge Ann T. Mikoll; Kathy and John Nerger: In Honor of Joyce Ellis’ 85th Birthday; Mark Peszko; Premier Wine/Southern Wine and Spirits; Reid Group; Salvatore’s Italian Gardens; and Woods Oviatt Gilman.