Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra To Feature Two Concerts Under Dennis Kim In East Aurora And Clarence, 1/11, Today

Two Western New York communities will get the chance to hear the BPO in their own backyards this winter.

The BPO Chamber Orchestra will perform at Nativity Lutheran Church in East Aurora on January 11 and at Clarence Presbyterian Church on January 12. Both concerts begin at 7:30 PM. Concertmaster Dennis Kim will conduct the program, and is the featured soloist on Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" and Bach's Concerto for Violin and Oboe, along with new Principal Oboe Henry Ward.

This will Mark Ward's first solo appearance since assuming this role. He became Acting Principal Oboe in January 2015, and won the permanent role through the audition process in June 2015. Kim is also a relative newcomer to the BPO and Western New York, assuming the role of concertmaster at the start of the 2015-2016 season. While Kim conducted the Buffalo Philharmonic during his performance of "Winter" from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" in December 2015, this is his first time developing and leading a full program for the orchestra.

"This is something I've been interested in doing here in Buffalo," said Kim. "I programmed Baroque music because we so rarely get to perform it - the full symphonic orchestra didn't come into vogue until more recently. But it's some of the most beloved and enduring music ever written. I had a chance to lead concerts in Finland and Sweden with no conductor, and it was a great experience not only for the audience but also the players. We played well-received concerts in Clarence and East Aurora over the summer, and we look forward to returning."

"I'm excited about this piece because we're both playing against each other and leading the orchestra without a conductor, which is very different from what you might see at Kleinhans. It will be a much more intimate experience, and we're excited as well," said Ward.

General admission tickets are $15 each, with a student price of $10, and can be purchased by calling (716) 885-5000 or visiting bpo.org.