Welcome to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2025-26 season! We are delighted to have you with us to kick off another memorable year of performances at Kleinhans Music Hall.
Ushering in the new season on September 20, prodigy-turned-virtuoso Alexander Malofeev joins JoAnn Falletta and our musicians for the first time as a season-opening soloist. A Buffalo fan favorite over the last few years, he performs Tchaikovsky’s famous first piano concerto, completing an Opening Night program that also features Strauss’ romantic Der Rosenkavalier Suite and Bernstein’s spirited Candide Overture. Rising pianist Maxim Lando makes his BPO debut on October 3 and 4 with Chopin’s first piano concerto, alongside Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide and Bartók’s Dance Suite. Other exceptional Classics Series concerts are programmed throughout the year.
Opening the Pops series, Ron Spigelman makes his highly anticipated debut as Principal Pops Conductor in Showstopping Pops on September 27—an evening of iconic music from the stage and screen. Featured vocalists Jay Dref and Michele Ragusa are both Buffalo natives who have had major success in international concert tours and Broadway productions. In another exciting conductor debut, Grant O’Brien leads the orchestra for Symphonic Spooktacular on October 12 in his first performance as the inaugural JoAnn Falletta Conducting Fellow.
We also proudly continue two traditions that highlight members of the Western New York community. On October 10, A Gospel Symphony Celebration features the Buffalo United Community Choir—representing more than 50 local churches and organizations—joined by gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard and her daughter, Kierra Sheard-Kelly. On October 11, the third annual Festival Encanto Hispano showcases local artists and vendors from 12:00-4:00pm at Kleinhans in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, preceding guest conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez’s stellar program of Latin pop hits that evening.
If you are a first-time attendee or returning after some time away, I warmly invite you to become part of the BPO family with a subscription to enjoy the best prices and special benefits. Visit bpo.org/subscriptions to explore packages designed to fit your musical interests and schedule. We are confident you will find many concerts that work well for you.
On behalf of JoAnn, the musicians, Board, and staff, thank you for joining us. Your presence helps keep our music vibrant, our traditions alive, and our community connected and inspired.
Sincerely,
Scott R. Stenclik
Chair, Board of Trustees
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc.
Officers
Scott Stenclik, Chair
John Yurtchuk, Vice Chair – Chair Elect
Anne Conable, Vice Chair
John Zak, Treasurer
William Keefer, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Cindy Abbott Letro
Karen Arrison*
Jonathan Borden †
Stephen B. Edge, MD*
JoAnn Falletta*
Brenda Feldstein
Nickole Garrison
Daniel Hart*
Mark Hodges †
Kate Holzemer †
Matt Low
Ronald Luczak
Roman Mekinulov †
Kyle Morgan
Erin Peradotto Terhaar
Corinne Rice
Lynne Ruda*
Rev. Melody I. Rutherford
Diana Sachs †
Ricardo Saeb
Karen Saxon
Robin G. Schulze, Ph.D
Karen Sperrazza
Christine Standish
David Stark
Rev. Jonathan Staples
Henry Ward †
Tracy S. Woodrow
* ex-officio
† musician representative
Life Members
Anthony Cassetta
Randall Odza
John N. Walsh III
Robert G. Weber
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation Board of Directors
Karen Arrison, Chair
Holly Hejmowski, Treasurer
Aleks Spellman, Secretary
Thomas Emmerling
Michael Munschauer
Lisa L. Smith
John Yurtchuk
Administration
Daniel Hart
President & Executive Director
Diana Martinusek
Executive Assistant
Development
Jennifer Barbee
Associate Executive Director & Vice President, Development
Mindy Takacs
Director of Development
Jacqueline Chagnon
Donor Relations Manager
Franziska Macur
Annual Fund & Grants Manager
Carson Mannino
Special Events & Project Coordinator
Jordan Walker
Prospect Research & Development Operations Manager
Lindsey Roth
Development Assistant
Finance
Kevin James
Vice President, Finance & Administration
Nicole M. Bodemer
Director of Finance
Jacqueline Henry
Finance/Accounts Payable Associate
Deborah Cammarano
Payroll & HR/Benefits Administrator
Andrea Bickford
Finance Assistant
Education & Community Engagement
Robin Parkinson
Vice President, Education & Community Engagement
Rachael Pudlewski
Associate Director of Education
Marketing
Travis Estes
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
AndréeRenée Simpson
Marketing Manager
Kelcie Rose
Digital Marketing Manager
Cary Michael Trout
Design Services & Branding Manager
Simone Viola
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Sales & Patron Services
Adam Cady
Director of Patron Services
Laura Papit
Patron Services Manager
Patron Services Representatives
Anne Boucher
Ryan Fisher
Karen Kohlhagen
Danielle Rennicks
Amy Sturmer
Operations
Jonathan Parrish
Vice President, Artistic & Orchestra Operations
Matt Hart
Orchestra Operations Manager
Sarah Abend-Fritz
Orchestra Personnel Manager
Juan Herrera
Operations Assistant
Kleinhans Music Hall
Jess Basil
Kleinhans Music Hall Manager
Brian Seibel
Event Manager
Jenifer Grasha
Audience Services Manager
Michael Cassidy
Chief Engineer
Dennis Nawojski
Concessions Manager
Lucas Parks
Parking & Set-Up Supervisor
IATSE Local 10 Production Crew
Christine Kramer
Master Property Manager
Wesley Krantz
Assistant Property Manager
Nicholas Kogut
Master Electrician & Master Video Engineer
Robert Hillman
Master Audio Engineer
Jonathan Irizarry
Assistant Audio Engineer