The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Kicks Off its Music For Youth Series, 10/14

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, 3,118 first-grade students from the Buffalo Public Schools will converge on Kleinhans Music Hall in the kickoff to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Music For Youth series, presented by First Niagara Bank, with additional support from National Fuel.

The students will attend concerts at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Titled "Buildings, Bridges, and the BPO: Our Musical City," the program uses music by Beethoven, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Copland, and Stravinsky to explore how composers create music, and how music fulfills a purpose. The program aligns with Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy and NYS Social Studies Standards.

This season, the BPO is also presenting a program for students in grades 3-6 titled "The Listening Revolution: Technology, Music and You." The program explores technology's affect on the musical experience. Using pieces by Mozart, Rossini, Wagner, John Williams, and Glenn Miller, students will follow the timeline of entertainment technology to explore musical language, eras, form, and compositional choice-making. The exploration ends with the orchestra and the audience making music together, highlighting the most valuable part of technology and music: its ability to connect people. It aligns with Common Core Standards for ELA and Literacy as well as New York State Mathematics, Science and Technology Standards.

The series is developed in collaboration with music educators, musicians, and the Buffalo Philharmonic's education department. Nearly 40,000 students from across Western New York are expected to attend a BPO Music For Youth concert this season. Teachers can download sample lessons and materials to prepare students for the experience and reinforce what they learn in the concert hall.

BPO Associate Conductor Stefan Sanders will lead the concert series. Sanders was appointed to his position in May, and is also Music Director and Conductor for the Round Rock Symphony in Texas. He led the Buffalo Philharmonic in January 2014 in "Copland's America," a well-received Know The Score Series concert that included a collaboration with LehrerDance.

"This work is integral to the orchestra's mission and we couldn't do it without the support of First Niagara," commented the BPO's Director of Education and Community Engagement, Robin Parkinson. "Music helps children develop strong critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities and communication techniques. Cultivating an understanding of music sets them up for success later in life."

The fall Music For Youth schedule is:

Tuesday, Oct. 14:

Buffalo Public Schools first grades at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21:

Buffalo Public Schools second grades at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5:

Buffalo Public Schools fourth grades at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 6:

Buffalo Public Schools fifth grades at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

As Buffalo's cultural ambassador, the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the leadership of music director JoAnn Falletta presents more than 100 concerts each year. Since 1940, the orchestra's home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark with a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States. During the tenure of JoAnn Falletta, the BPO has rekindled its history of radio broadcasts and recordings, including the release of 30 new recordings on the Naxos and Beau Fleuve labels. For more information about the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, visit www.bpo.org.

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