Diversity Goals

The BPO, with the guidance of the Diversity Council, commits to the following specific goals to promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. To establish partnerships with diverse organizations and colleagues and collaborate with them on programs relevant to our community.
  4. To support music education in underserved areas and encourage broad participation in music programs.
  5. To seek diversity at all levels of the organization including board, staff, volunteers and the orchestra itself.

Fostering an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible environment where music is the right of every Individual across generations, cultures, genders, and socio-economic classes

24-25 Featured Programs

September
  • The second annual Festival Encanto Hispano is held at Kleinhans Music Hall in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, featuring Latino and Hispanic music, food and arts vendors. (Sep 21)
  • Broadway superstar Mandy Gonzalez joins the BPO for our Pops series opener (Sep 21)
October
  • Music for Youth Concerts with conductor Fernanda Lastrafeature works by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, Duke Ellington, José Elizondo and others presented to Buffalo Public School students in grades 1-6
  • Pianist Joyce Yang joins the BPO for a performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F major for Piano and Orchestra (Oct 11 & 13)
  • A Gospel Symphony Celebration conducted by Dr. Henry Panion III features vocalist Lady Tramaine Hawkins and the Buffalo United Community Choir (Oct 18)
  • Halloween Spooktacular family concert featuring guest artist Brandon Williamson and conductor Fernanda Lastra (Oct 20)
  • Composer Roberto Sierra’s Concierto para Violín y Orquesta is performed by violinist Juliana Athayde (Oct 25 & 26) 

 

November
  • Conductor, trumpeter, and vocalist Byron Stripling returns for Fascinatin’ Rhythm: A Gershwin Celebration featuring vocalist Sydney McSweeney (Nov 16) 
  • Annual holiday concert at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf (Nov 26)

 

December
  • Exceptional Holiday Concerts presented for listeners with special needs (Dec 4 & 5)
  • BPO concertmaster Nikki Chooi is featured as soloist on JoAnn’s Classical Christmas (Dec 13 & 14) 
  • Jingle Bell Jam family concerts conducted by Fernanda Lastra (Dec 15)

 

January
  • Featured vocalists including tenor Jordan Pitts join the BPO for Mozart’s Requiem (Jan 17 & 18) 
  • Annual East Side church collaborations in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Pianist Clayton Stephenson presents a piano masterclass for local students (Jan 23) and is featured as soloist with the BPO performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major (Jan 25 & 26) 

 

February
  • Award-winning Hollywood conductor Anthony Parnther leads the BPO in The Sound of Cinema, a program of music from film, television, video games and more, along with featured vocalist Holly Sedillos (Feb 1) 
  • Pianist Sheng Cai opens our Tchaikovsky Festival with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (Feb 7 & 8) 
  • A project started by the BPO Diversity Council, the Buffalo United Community Choir under the direction of Ella Robinson, George Brown, and Karen Saxon perform a concert called Buffalo United for Black History (TBD)

 

March
  • Buffalo World Connection for Buffalo Public Schools features the Sphinx Competition Winner, cellist Sonya Moomawand two composers, Ivette Herriman-Rodriguez and Christopher Ducasse (Mar 5)
  • Vocalist Elisa Latrice joins the BPO for Tina Symphonic: The Music of Tina Turner (Mar 7) 
  • Symphonic Showdown: The Wild West in Concert is conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez (Mar 8) 
  • Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road is conducted by Malcolm Merriweather, with featured voalists Brittany Renee, Taylor Raven, Norman Shankle, and Sidney Outlaw, with Benjamin Taylor as William Still. The program also includes Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations (Mar 29 & 30) 

 

April
  • Family concert Carnival of the Animals features guest artist Brandon Williamson conducted by Fernanda Lastra(Apr 6)
  • Nikki Chooi performs Behzad Ranjbaran’s Violin Concerto in a program also featuring Jessie Montgomery’s Snapshots, a work co-commissioned by the BPO (Apr 11 & 13) 

 

May & June
  • GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Ryan Shaw joins the BPO for an evening of R&B, soul, and blues (May 3) 
  • Side by Side, featuring students of Buffalo Public Schools’ Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, is conducted by Fernanda Lastra (May 7)
  • Mendelssohn’s Italian is conducted by Fernanda Lastra (May 10 & 11)
  • Tim McAllister joins the BPO for the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s Concerto for Saxophone. The program also includes Variaciones concertantes by Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera (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 (June 20)
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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.

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Our Actions

We aim to align our actions with our goals and track our intentional progress towards a more inclusive organization.

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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.