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Buffalo Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra performs two January concerts under baton of Dennis Kim

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Wed, Dec 21st 2016 02:15 pm

East Aurora, Clarence churches to host Bach and Vivaldi concerts

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

The BPO Chamber Orchestra will perform at Nativity Lutheran Church in East Aurora on Jan. 11 and at Clarence Presbyterian Church on Jan. 12. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. 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," Kim said. "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."

Ward said, "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."

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.

As Buffalo's cultural ambassador, the Grammy Award-winning BPO, under the leadership of music director JoAnn Falletta presents more than 100 concerts each year. Since 1940, the orchestra's home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark with a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the U.S. During Falletta's tenure, the BPO has rekindled its history of radio broadcasts and recordings, including the release of 38 new recordings on the Naxos and Beau Fleuve labels.

For more information about the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, visit www.bpo.org.

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