Music that moves
a whole city.
OUR STORY
Buffalo String Works’ mission is to ignite community and youth leadership through inclusive music education.
The inspiration for Buffalo String Works occurred after a concert in March 2014 at P.S. 45 International School, an elementary school on Buffalo’s West Side. Elise Alaimo, the music teacher at the school and BSW co-founder, received funding to engage a group of musicians, which included co-founders, Yuki Numata Resnick and Virginia Barron, to play for her students. What transpired that day was very special indeed!
After playing a movement of Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quartet in C Minor, the students were asked what the music meant to them. A little boy peered out from underneath the desk where he was hiding and said, “I think it means, ‘I love you so much’.” He was right on, intuitively understanding so well what the music was communicating. The students overwhelmed us with their attention and focus; crowding around afterwards, asking questions, wanting to try the instruments, asking “When can we play?!”
“When, indeed?” we asked ourselves. It was in answer to this question that Buffalo String Works was born.
Buffalo String Works opened its doors in September 2014. We offered violin lessons to 17 students and had a volunteer staff of 4 teachers and 3 teaching assistants. In ten short years, we've grown significantly; we now offer lessons in violin, viola, cello, and bass to 160 students at our own site on Niagara St. in Buffalo and two school-based sites at Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School and NativityMiguel Middle School. Our dreams are to continue expanding and growing our BSW community!
Regardless of their roots as refugees and immigrants, I want them to realize that they are an important fabric of America.
— Aye Min Thant, Outreach & Engagement Manager
I love seeing the progress beginner cellists can make in a year and the moment they realize a piece that used to be so hard is so easy!
Lisa Gagnon, BSW Teaching Artist
For our students especially, many of whom hail from all over the world, the universal language of music can be a lifeline. We aim to cultivate a positive space that supports our students’ development into curious, confident, committed individuals who make a difference in their new home: exemplary musicians who are also exemplary citizens. Through our intensive and thoughtful programming both in the classroom and on stage, we seek to transform our audiences, neighborhoods, and the Western New York community, offering a sense of belonging to new Americans and those who have long called Buffalo home.
Neighborhoods United by
Empowered Young Musicians
We not only provide rigorous music instruction, but also a creative home for refugee, immigrant, and historically marginalized youth. We recognize the significance of music as a universal language, and by lifting up the voices of our students and parents, we cultivate youth to be leaders and agents of social change.
Buffalo String Works 10 Year Anniversary
This video chronicles our founding story, as shared by all of our founders, and traces our growth through the years, highlighting the milestones and achievements achieved along the way. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to the immense dedication and hard work that has shaped Buffalo String Works into what it is today. We extend our deepest gratitude to our families, staff, faculty, students, donors, and supporters around the world. Thank you for being part of our journey; let's celebrate together.
Reflections on Resilience
Reflections on Resilience was the theme of Carnegie Hall's PlayUSA 2021-22 year. For this project, we invited Damon Banks and Gwen Laster to come to Buffalo String Works to host a 4-day workshop for Teaching Artists and students on composition and improvisation. We also interviewed our Student Leaders on topics such as resilience, home, and change. We shared this project at the annual PlayUSA Convening at Carnegie Hall in June 2022.