SUNY Fredonia Students to Share Stage with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in Landmark Collaboration
A unique musical partnership will unfold on March 4, as 90 students from the SUNY Fredonia College Symphony Orchestra join forces with the acclaimed musicians of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, New York. This “side-by-side” performance, led by conductors Dr. Emily Schaad of SUNY Fredonia and JoAnn Falletta, the BPO’s Conductor and Artistic Director, represents a significant opportunity for mentorship and artistic growth.
The concert program will feature Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “The Bamboula” op. 75 (Rhapsodic Dance) and Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95, commonly known as “From the New World.” The collaboration is particularly meaningful as SUNY Fredonia celebrates its Bicentennial, marking 200 years of learning and community impact.
A pre-performance reception will be held for Fredonia alumni and friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in Marcato, located on the lower level of Kleinhans Music Hall. The reception will serve as a celebration of the performance and an opportunity to support the university’s student musicians.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are $15, with a combined reception-plus-performance ticket available for $25. The concert is free for all students with a valid ticket. Tickets can be purchased through the BPO Box Office at (716) 885-5000.
A Masterclass in Musicianship
The collaboration extends beyond the performance itself. Maestro Falletta will visit SUNY Fredonia prior to March 4 to work directly with the student orchestra, leveraging her extensive experience with the BPO, which includes numerous recordings, GRAMMY awards, tours, and world premieres.
Students involved in the project have expressed profound enthusiasm for the opportunity. “There’s something magical that happens when we sit next to professionals,” shared a graduate assistant. “It’s like a jumpstart on all of the musicianship skills that we are learning, and our playing and musical awareness often improves instantly.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Dr. Schaad emphasized the value of the experience for her students. “It is a truly unique and valuable opportunity for Fredonia students to work closely with award-winning professionals and to play under JoAnn Falletta,” she noted. “The excitement is palpable in the ensemble! I am grateful for the BPO’s willingness and enthusiasm for deepening their relationship with SUNY Fredonia School of Music.”
For Marley Crane, a senior Violin Performance major and concertmaster of the student orchestra, the opportunity is particularly inspiring. “Playing under JoAnn Falletta and with the members of the BPO is an opportunity to make music with incredible musicians that I wouldn’t normally be able to play with,” Crane stated. “Music is ultimately a social creature and being able to broaden the social and musical experiences I have will make me and everyone around me more resilient and creative musicians.” Crane also plans to observe and emulate the leadership styles of the BPO’s accomplished musicians.
Another student, Mitchel Schnaufer, a sophomore Music Performance major specializing in bassoon, sees the collaboration as a glimpse into a potential professional career. “This side by side is an amazing opportunity for all of us in CSO this semester,” Schnaufer said. “This experience will create an opportunity to catch a glimpse of a professional career in music and will hopefully help establish a connection with those who are already professionals.”
Jenna Reppenhagen, a senior Music Education and Viola Performance major, echoed this sentiment, adding, “As a SUNY Fredonia student, the opportunity to play alongside the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is extremely valuable to me. I am excited to connect emotionally with professional musicians while performing Dvorak’s 9th Symphony.”
The concert is supported by the Fredonia Alumni Association, the Bob and Betty Young Fund, and the Touring Ensemble Fund through the Fredonia College Foundation, alongside additional foundation support. Kleinhans Music Hall is located at 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo, NY 14201. This collaboration promises not only a memorable concert experience but also a lasting impact on the future of music education and performance.
