Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

10/12/2026

One night. A full orchestra. A powerful community choir. And the music of one of gospel’s most influential voices. 🎶

This Friday, the BPO joins the Buffalo United Community Choir for A Gospel Symphony Tribute to Richard Smallwood — celebrating an artist whose music has brought together gospel, classical tradition, and contemporary sound for generations.

Hear selections from Smallwood’s remarkable catalog, including the beloved “Total Praise,” brought to life with the full force of orchestra, choir, and band under conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush.

📅 Friday, October 16 at 7:30pm
📍 Kleinhans Music Hall
🎟️ Get your tickets at bpo.org!

10/11/2026

FRANCIS: AN ORATORIO by Richard Danielpour with libretto by Sister Margaret Carney, OSF (Order of Saint Francis), featuring the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with Anna Schubert, soprano (St. Clare), Edward Nelson, baritone (St.
https://www.buffalorising.com/2026/10/lightning-strikes-twice-at-kleinhans-falletta-and-the-bpo-premiere-danielpours-francis-who-chose-love-over-power

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

Applications are now open for the Friends of the BPO Young Musicians' Scholarships!

Western New York high school seniors planning to major in music at a college or university in the fall of 2027 are invited to apply. Applicants must submit performance recordings, an essay, and recommendations, with selected finalists invited to audition and interview in the spring.

Three Young Musicians' Scholarship awards will be presented, along with additional opportunities for string, jazz, and vocal students.

Applications and recordings are due November 18, 2026.

Learn more & apply ➡️ bpo.org/scholarships

10/07/2026

Congratulations, Dan!

Congratulations to Dan Hart, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Arts Services Inc. - ASI Spark Awards, recognizing his more than four decades of leadership in the orchestra field and 22 remarkable years at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Join us in celebrating Dan’s extraordinary career and wishing him well in retirement at an open house on Thursday, October 22, from 4-7pm at Kleinhans Music Hall.

10/07/2026

This weekend, experience a major world premiere with the BPO. 🎶

Richard Danielpour's Francis: An Oratorio in Nine Scenes brings the story and spirit of St. Francis of Assisi to life through orchestra, chorus, soloists, and narration – exploring compassion, transformation, care for creation, and the search for meaning in a divided world.

Led by JoAnn Falletta, with a libretto by Sr. Margaret Carney and narration by Claudia Christian, Francis marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' death with a work that feels both timeless and urgently present.

Join us for two performances:
📅 Saturday, October 10 | 7:30pm
📅 Sunday, October 11 | 2:30pm
🎟️ Details & tickets: bpo.org/francis

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The BPO Classics Series is presented by the Yurtchuk Foundation.

10/05/2026

Longtime broadcaster and friend of the BPO Judge Penny Wolfgang sat down with BPO Vice President of Marketing & Communications Travis Estes to talk about the wide range of experiences on the BPO stage and what audiences can look forward to in the first half of the season.

Listen here: https://www.audacy.com/wben/podcasts/on_target_with_penny_wolfgang/episodes/travis_estes_buffalo_philharmo-8720281

10/04/2026

Franciscan Sr. Margaret Carney wrote the libretto for "Francis: An Oratorio in Nine Scenes." Performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra are set for Oct. 10 and 11.

10/02/2026

Two world premieres take the spotlight at the BPO this October. In Buffalo Spree, Jan Jezioro previews Richard Danielpour’s new oratorio Francis, conducted by JoAnn Falletta on October 10–11, and Jonathan Leshnoff’s Symphony No. 5, premiering October 23–24 on a program also featuring BPO Associate Concertmaster Amy Glidden.

Read more:

Pope Leo XIV, who last year became the first American-born Pope, has proclaimed this to be the 800th Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, who died in 1226. In

10/01/2026

Following the 2:30pm performance of Disney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert Live to Film, join us this Saturday, October 3 for the 4th Annual Festival Encanto Hispano from 5–7:30pm — FREE and open to everyone!

Celebrate Hispanic culture and Buffalo’s vibrant community with live music and dance, art, food, local vendors, community organizations, and more.

Presented in collaboration with the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc.

🎶 Coco in Concert | 2:30pm — tickets required
🎉 Festival Encanto Hispano | 5–7:30pm — FREE & open to the public

Visit bpo.org/festival for details and a full list of vendors and performers.