Vision
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus will enrich the community with excellence and leadership in the choral arts.
Mission
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus is an independent symphonic chorus whose mission is to provide the highest quality performances of choral music to the Western New York community while developing singers in the choral arts, through self-sponsored concerts, and as the primary choral partner of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Values
- Commitment – Dedication to and respect for the music, the organization, our fellow singers and the enhancement of the quality of life in our community.
- Professionalism – The constant drive to maintain high standards of competency, honesty, accountability, knowledge and integrity which enhance the performance experience for the musicians and the patrons.
- Camaraderie -The unparalleled satisfaction and uplifting human connection that comes from the shared experience of an outstanding performance and honors the broad range of talents and abilities that we all bring.
- Artistry – The creative spirit and passionate force that summon us constantly to seek new, different, and better ways to infuse the joy of music into the lives of our audience.
- Joy – The exhilarating sensation that moves us toward amusement, gratitude, serenity, and pride in our relationships with the music, our community, and each other.
Strategic Plan
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus is pleased to share its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan approved by the Board of Directors on July 30, 2024. The plan is the culmination of a formal facilitated strategic planning process. The new plan is based on three key pillars to foster excellence, diversity and growth.
- Artistry – Aspire to the highest standards of choral music excellence
- Stewardship – Build and sustain organizational and financial practices that enable long-term choral excellence.
- Community – Forge and foster connections among our membership and the diverse communities of Buffalo, Western New York, and beyond.
We are thankful for the support of the WNY community and eager to see the growth of choral arts among young people and those from all segments of our rich and diverse region. You can see our Strategic Plan here.
History
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the Western New York region through the performance of high-quality, diverse musical programs and developing singers of all ages in the choral arts. The BPC is the winner of the 2020 GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance for their recording of Richard Danielpour's The Passion of Yeshua with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor JoAnn Falletta. With a roster of over 140 singers, the BPC is frequently heard as the principal guest chorus of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus was founded by Jessamine E. Long as the Buffalo Schola Cantorum in 1937. Since that time, the artistic leadership has included such noteworthy musicians as Cameron Baird and the twenty-two year leadership of Thomas Swan. In 1992, the Chorus was renamed to more accurately reflect its mission to the community. Now the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus makes a number of guest appearances throughout the region and produces self-sponsored concerts, including the annual performances of Handel’s Messiah.
Recent collaborators include the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo-Niagara Concert Band, Buffalo Chamber Players, Buffalo United Community Choir, SUNY Fredonia School of Music, and many more. Recent performance venues include Kleinhans Music Hall, Chautauqua Institution, ArtPark, Temple Beth Zion, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Victory Basilica and Shrine, and Asbury Hall, a downtown Buffalo multi-arts venue in a repurposed 1870s Gothic Revival church. The BPC is a proud member of the Asbury Arts Collaborative, where we also conduct our administrative business. The BPC can be seen each year at events throughout the community, including Daemen University Commencement ceremonies, BPO Pops and Classical series, community sings and caroling events, and much more!
In the past, the BPC has participated in Curtain Up! and the Elmwood Arts Festival, and has performed with various area choruses including the Buffalo Niagara Youth Chorus, the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, Finger Lakes Choral Festival and the Rochester Oratorio Society.