The BPO, with the guidance of the Diversity Council, commits to the following specific goals to promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access:
- To feature artists of color (soloists, conductors, composers) annually in our concert offerings whether it be Classics, Pops, Family, Rock, Education and/or Community Engagement concerts.
- To create programs tied to community events and history that are relevant to diverse audiences, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Hispanic Heritage Month.
- To establish partnerships with diverse organizations and colleagues and collaborate with them on programs relevant to our community.
- To support music education in underserved areas and encourage broad participation in music programs.
- To seek diversity at all levels of the organization including board, staff, volunteers and the orchestra itself.
25-26 Featured Programs
October
- Gospel Symphony Celebration conducted by Jonathan Taylor Rush, with Karen Clark Sheard and the Buffalo United Community Choir (Oct 10)
- 3rd Annual Festival Encanto Hispano in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY (Oct 11)
- La Vida Loca, conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, featuring Ender Thomas, Jackie Mendez, José Sibaja and Luisito Quintero (Oct 11)
- Music for Youth Concerts with conductor Grant O’Brien, presented to students in grades 1-6 from Buffalo Public Schools. Featuring works by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint Georges and Quincy Jones
November
- Annual holiday concert at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf (Nov 25)
December
- Exceptional Holiday Concerts presented for listeners with special needs (Dec 1 & 2)
- Classical Christmas featuring vocalist Sirgourney Cook (Dec 12 & 13)
- Holiday Pops featuring the Buffalo United Community Choir (Dec 18-21)
January
- Mozart’s Mass, conducted by Maximiano Valdés, featuring vocalists Lester Lynch, Camila Isabel, and Natalia Santaliz (Jan 16 & 17)
- Sphinx Orchestral Partner Auditions in Detroit, MI
- Mozart’s Violin, conducted by Anthony Parnther, featuring Joseph Bologne‘s Symphony No. 2 (Jan 24 & 25)
- Byron Stripling, conductor and trumpet, featuring performers Carmen Bradford and Leo Manzari (Jan 31)
- Annual East Side church collaborations in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February
- Annual East Side church collaborations in honor of Black History Month
- Ruben Studdard’s tribute to Luther Vandross (Feb 13 & 14)
- BPO Youth Concerts, featuring conductor Grant O’Brien, presented to students from Buffalo Public Schools
March
- BPO Youth Concerts, featuring conductor Grant O’Brien, presented to students from Buffalo Public Schools
- West Side Connection for Buffalo Public Schools featuring Sphinx Competition winner Jacqueline Rodenbeck (Mar 11)
April
- Guitarist Pablo Sainz Villegas performs Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez (Apr 11 & 12)
- Peter and the Wolf featuring guest artist Brandon Williamson (Apr 19)
- Violinist Amaryn Olmeda performs Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor (Apr 24 & 25)
May & June
- Tony® and GRAMMY® winner Leslie Odom, Jr. joins the BPO for the best of Broadway and the American Songbook (May 2)
- Side by Side, featuring students of Buffalo Public Schools’ Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (May 5)
- Cellist Sterling Elliott performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 (May 7 & 8)
- Baritone Joshua Conyers is featured in Carmina Burana (May 30 & 31)
- The BPO Diversity Council’s annual fundraiser, Opening Doors, raises awareness and funds for IDEA initiatives at the BPO, and presents the annual IDEA Awards (Jun 20)
Our Commitment
We believe that access to the power of music is the right of every individual. Music is a unifier. Its deep and compelling impact moves across generations, cultures, genders and socio-economic classes.
Our Actions
We aim to align our actions with our goals and track our intentional progress towards a more inclusive organization.
BPO Diversity Council
Formed in 2016, the BPO Diversity Council is comprised of community leaders, BPO staff, and musicians, and helps the BPO foster greater inclusion, diversity, equity and access within the organization and the classical music world.