Educational outreach is part of the core mission of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and I think my role as a musician of the orchestra is critical to that mission. I’ve served on the BPO’s education committee for 5 years, where I connect with local music educators, provide input on the orchestra’s educational programming, and strategize new outreach efforts. I’m also a member of the BPO’s teaching artist roster, which takes me and my instrument directly into classrooms for an in-person interactive presentation.
I’m passionate about sharing my own passion for music, and have channeled that towards the Symphony Scholars, a group of high school students who are offered opportunities to learn more about the orchestra and the music. While in-person concert attendance is currently impossible, the BPO and I have created a “Listening Club” for the scholars program, where they gain access to our virtual concerts along with a short, introductory listening guide that I write for them. I enjoy the challenge of writing about music, especially with the aim of helping introduce those who don’t have a lot of experience with the classical concert experience.