Jaman Edward Dunn will become the first assistant conductor, community engagement, of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, starting later this month.
The one-year assistant conductor position was funded by round seven of the New York State Council on the Arts Regional Economic Development Council initiative. It is part of the BPO's ongoing efforts to engage with all parts of the Buffalo community in a meaningful way and to serve diverse audiences.
Dunn was selected from a slate of six candidates who came to Buffalo from as far away as Germany and Argentina for a closed conducting audition. Each candidate had an opportunity to conduct the orchestra; deliver a speaking presentation to members of the orchestra, board and community; and take part in an interview process.
Dunn will lead the May 2019 "Side-By-Side" concert with the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, which includes not only the music students performing onstage with the BPO, but dance, theatrical and visual elements put together by students in the other programs. He will also take part in the "Music for Youth" education concert series, "BPO Kids" concerts, school outreach, cover conducting duties and will participate in the BPO diversity council.
Dunn has been studying conducting since high school. A Chicago native, he began his musical education as a violinist at the age of 8. He attended The Ohio State University for vocal performance, where he founded the Buckeye Philharmonic, which remains Ohio State's only student-run and operated orchestra. He is a recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Master of Music degree in conducting.
During his studies, he led the conductor's orchestra at Berklee in works of Strauss, Brahms, Walton and Dvořák; and he has assisted the Boston Conservatory Orchestra in works of Mahler, Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Separate from his program requirements, Dunn has conducted self-promoted concerts of Vaughan Williams, Respighi, John Williams, Mendelssohn and Elgar. Maestro Dunn has also conducted the Berklee Boston Conservatory Recording Orchestra in compositions by rising composers in the fields of classical and film music. He balances this with a continued career as a vocalist.
"I am extremely excited to be appointed to this position with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra," Dunn said. "I am very passionate about conducting, but even more than that, I am very passionate about the presence of minorities in classical music. One of the biggest challenges I have experienced is the underrepresentation of African-American role models in this field. I hope that, with this position, I can add to the presence of African-American conductors in the performance field in order to make visibility that much stronger. I can't wait to begin this journey with the Buffalo Philharmonic."
