Bringing Chamber Music to the Classroom: A Special Visit from the BKW Piano Trio

On Monday, March 23rd, students at NativityMiguel Middle School, one of Buffalo String Works’ partner schools, experienced a special visit from the BKW Piano Trio of Cleveland, Ohio. The trio was in Buffalo to perform at Kleinhans Music Hall as part of the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, and took time before their departure to connect with students through an intimate, in-school performance.

During their visit, the trio introduced students to the world of chamber music, sharing not only their artistry, but also insights into performance, collaboration, and the role music plays in their lives. Students listened to selections from composers including Ludwig van Beethoven, Jennifer Higdon, and Antonín Dvořák, and had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about musicianship and the journey of becoming a professional artist.

Formed in 2023, the BKW Piano Trio is made up of three young graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Music: pianist Jacob Bernhardt, violinist Konrad Kowal, and cellist Nora Willauer. As part of the conservatory’s Advanced Piano Trio Program, they studied with renowned musicians including Sharon Robinson and Jaime Laredo of the Kalichstein–Laredo–Robinson Trio, as well as pianist Kathryn Brown.

Experiences like this offer students a unique window into the professional music world, bringing learning beyond the classroom and inspiring the next generation of musicians. We are grateful to the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Isabel Ong, and the NativityMiguel administrative team for making this visit possible.

Buffalo String Works Takes the Stage at BPO’s Community Spotlight

Buffalo String Works (BSW) is excited to be featured in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) Community Spotlight on May 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM. The Community Spotlight program highlights school and community groups in performances prior to select BPO concerts, offering local musicians the opportunity to share their work on a celebrated stage.

Representing BSW at this special performance are two groups: our Advanced Ensemble and Lifelong Learners Program, a unique collaboration that brings together musicians across generations.

About Our Lifelong Learners Program

One of Buffalo String Works’ newest initiatives, in partnership with the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, introduces adults aged 55 and up to violin for the very first time. As part of our Lifelong Learners Program, students meet twice a month at Westminster Community House on Buffalo’s East Side for one-hour group classes with Teaching Artist Tajai Shorter. Together, they build foundational skills in violin playing while also exploring music appreciation and listening.

Over the past several months, the class has been developing essential techniques, from posture and bow control to ensemble playing, as they prepare a piece for this upcoming performance. As we heard from the class, the experience has been both challenging and deeply rewarding, offering a new creative outlet and a meaningful sense of community.

When they learned they would be performing at Kleinhans Music Hall, they were overjoyed. For many, this marks their very first time performing, and on such a renowned stage at that!

At the Community Spotlight, BFNC students will perform alongside the Advanced Ensemble which holds some of BSW's most experienced students. Together, they will embark on a unique, intergenerational performance that reflects the heart of Buffalo String Works’ mission: building connection and belonging through music.

Join us at Kleinhans Music Hall to celebrate these musicians and their journey. Community Spotlight performances take place in the Mary Seaton Room approximately 45 minutes before the start of select BPO concerts. Admission to the BPO concert is required.

We hope you’ll join us for this special evening of music and community.

More Than Music: Alternative Programming Week 2026

During the week of March 16, Buffalo String Works paused regular music instruction to host a week of enrichment programming, creating space for students to explore creativity, wellness, and community in new ways.

The week began with a special workshop led by Locust Street Art, where students created bead sculptures inspired by the work of Jesús Rafael Soto. Through this hands-on activity, students explored movement, color, and form, bringing their own interpretations to life while learning about a globally renowned artist.

Throughout the rest of the week, students participated in activities designed to support both personal growth and connection. Our Team A and Advanced Ensemble students gathered for a self-care circle, engaging in open conversations about mental health and the importance of caring for themselves both on and off the stage. Students also planted seeds together, an activity symbolizing growth, resilience, and putting down roots in Buffalo. To close out the week, students wrote heartfelt thank-you cards to their parents and caregivers, reflecting on the support systems that make their musical journeys possible.

BSW Circle

Buffalo String Works (BSW) continues to provide programming because of a community that believes deeply in what music can make possible. At BSW, music opens doors to performance opportunities, enrichment activities, and strong friendships, all while supporting students’ growth as leaders in their communities. It costs $5,000 to fully support one student at our Niagara Street program for one year which includes rigorous music instruction in a safe, welcoming environment, and additional services like mental health and youth development support.

This year, we’re excited to introduce the BSW Circle, a community of dedicated annual supporters whose giving builds upon the collective generosity of our broader community. Circle members ensure that students in our largest program grow as both a musician and a leader. They sustain the heartbeat of BSW; funding instruments, instruction, and the joyful work that fills our halls. Each gift helps ensure that students have access to the transformative power of music, regardless of circumstance.

Circle membership begins at an annual commitment of $5,000, which covers one student’s full participation for the year. This includes 

• free, safe aftercare three days per week

• six hours of instrument instruction each week

• a free instrument, case, t-shirt, and all supplies needed to participate

• the opportunity to perform in at least two concerts per year

• a healthy snack each day; access to a student support specialist

• unique music and enrichment experiences

• skills and relationships that will last a lifetime.

In gratitude for this level of support, Circle members are invited to a fall reception and student showcase, receive direct updates from BSW leadership and teaching artists, and are recognized in both print and digital publications. Members also enjoy opportunities to meet the young musicians whose lives they help transform to witness the lasting difference their donation made in the life of a child.

We are grateful to the inaugural members* of the BSW Circle who are helping make full-year participation possible for students this year:

• Barry Heneghan

• Chuck Kreiner

• Cynthia Baird Stark

• Dee Cepeda

• Frank and Wilma Cipolla

*Thank you to those donors who’ve wished to remain anonymous, we greatly value your contribution

If you would like to learn more about the BSW Circle or support Buffalo String Works at any level, please reach out to Whitney at whitney@buffalostringworks.org—she would be happy to connect.

BSW in the Community!

At Buffalo String Works, community is at the heart of everything we do. Beyond the classroom, our students step onto stages across Buffalo, sharing music that reflects belonging, celebration, and civic pride. Over the past year, three performances stood out as powerful reminders of how music can connect people, places, and purpose.

Honoring Community Leadership at City Hall

In 2025, our students had the honor of performing at Buffalo City Hall during Dion Dawkins’ Key to the City ceremony in November. For our students, performing at such a civic milestone was both an exciting opportunity and a meaningful way to contribute to a moment of citywide recognition.

A Winter Concert Rooted in Community

In December 2025, families, friends, and community members gathered for our 2025 Winter Community Concert. This concert showcased not only our students’ musical growth, but also the joy and confidence that come from making music together.

Ringing in a New Chapter for Buffalo

The new year began on a high note when BSW students performed at Mayor Sean Ryan’s Inauguration on January 1st. Performing at the start of a new mayoral term was a profound reminder that our students are an integral part of Buffalo’s present and future.

Buffalo String Works is proud to be part of the moments that bring our city together. Each performance is an opportunity for our students to share their voices, build confidence, and strengthen the cultural fabric of Buffalo. We’re grateful to our partners, families, and supporters who make these experiences possible and who continue to believe in the power of music to unite and inspire.

Our Vision in Action: 2025-28 Strategic Plan

Buffalo String Works embarked on a process to develop a strategic plan in January 2025. In true BSW fashion, it began with hearing from our community. We spoke with students, families, teachers, staff, board members, partners, and supporters about what makes BSW special and where there might be opportunities or challenges ahead. Over four months, a small working group of staff, teachers, and board members refined that feedback to create a clear roadmap to guide our work over the next three years. We are thrilled to share the final product, which was adopted by our Board of Directors in June.

Mission: To ignite community and youth leadership through inclusive music education

Vision: Neighborhoods United by Empowered Young Musicians 

Goals & Objectives: 

Expand and strengthen the Niagara Street program experience

As an El Sistema-inspired organization, BSW has never just been a place to learn an instrument. Music is a vehicle for nurturing and developing resilient and confident young people. We have done this in many ways throughout the years, but this plan will double down on strengthening the supportive services that ensure that student musicians have what they need to thrive. We also want to ensure that we are leveraging every dollar to serve as many students as possible, without compromising the quality of instruction or support. We will do this in the following ways:

• Increase and diversify enrollment in the Niagara Street program

• Redesign and expand the student leadership program

• Establish a student support team for the social/emotional needs of students

• Update the core curriculum with a lens on cultural relevance, simplification, accountability for excellence, and consistent pedagogy

• Research and make recommendations for expanding instruction into additional instruments 

Design and launch a refocused community outreach strategy 

The BSW community is diverse, serving many of Buffalo’s historically marginalized youth in the community. Caring for one another means reaching into parts of the community with little or no access to music and showing up in both musical and non-musical spaces to advocate and uplift. Given this, we want to reimagine BSW’s relationship with the outside world and will do so in the following ways:

• Build an intentional outreach strategy that places BSW in closer community with wider Buffalo 

• Research the viability of satellite locations that model the Niagara Street experience in community centers 

• Implement a sustainable expansion plan for adult music education 

• Establish and communicate clear criteria and boundaries for any future program partnerships 

Reduce barriers to student and family engagement 

Over the years, we have learned there are fundamental challenges that are inherent in this work and in many cases, these issues are systemic, making them very difficult to address. To better serve the community, we want to take steps toward mitigating some of these challenges in the next three years, and will do so in the following ways:

• Create more touchpoints for teaching artists to interact with parents and families 

• Design innovative solutions to reduce student transportation challenges 

• Expand language access services for families 

• Diversify and educate staff to better welcome our student populations 

Invest in the growth, development and wellbeing of our staff and board 

It has been several years of change and evolution for our staff, faculty, and board of directors. At all levels, the team has had to stretch their capacity and abilities a great deal. To top it off, the recent federal funding cuts and attacks on immigrants have led to discouragement and a risk of burnout. BSW prioritizes the humanity of people. Our care for one another is the defining characteristic that has made many care so deeply about this work. This plan places the well-being of our team front and center by focusing on the following:

• Grow board size and strategically recruit to expand BSW networks and connections

• Provide governance and development training to increase the board’s confidence in fundraising and ambassadorship

• Expand investments in staff and teacher professional development and career planning 

• Identify opportunities to revise compensation, benefits, and HR policies for the increased wellbeing of our staff and teachers 

• Provide additional resources, supplies, equipment, and support for teachers and staff 

• Increase communication and collaboration opportunities among board, staff and teachers 

Increase BSW’s long-term financial and organizational strength 

BSW needs a new approach to resourcing and a renewed investment in infrastructure. Our organization has flourished since its founding, thanks to strong leadership and a favorable funding environment. However, leadership transitions come with certain challenges and the current funding context remains changing. BSW is experimenting with new strategies and doubling down on the things that have brought success in the past by doing the following:

• Cultivate and expand individual and major gifts 

• Widely share planned gift opportunities to grow endowment and other special funds 

• Explore earned revenue and paid program partnerships to diversify revenue 

• Build innovative new foundation partnerships around joint arts and health and human services issues 

• Conduct a space needs study and determine BSW’s long-term facility goals 

End of the Year Thank You Letter

Special Programming Week

Students at the Niagara Street Afterschool Program recently took a break from regularly scheduled classes to delve into some really exciting special projects. BSW hosted its first alternative programming week where students spent time creating and connecting with each other in new ways! It was a huge success and is something we look forward to doing for years to come. 

At the beginning of the week, students were joined by Kirkus Prize Winner and visual storyteller, Ariel Aberg-Riger. In 2024, she released her debut book, American Redux, which won prestigious literary awards across the globe. She has offered workshops to young audiences across the United States and brought her talents to share with BSW students! She walked students through a discussion on visual storytelling and the critical role that stories play in shaping the world around them. Students then colleged a self-portrait and short poem. These are now on display in the halls at the Niagara Street site!

On Wednesday, the fun continued with a visit from Suzuki Violinists of Western New York students! Long-time BSW Teaching Artist, Evan Courtin and Student Leadership Manager, Julia Port, brought together students to play a series of pieces side-by-side. Afterward, students took time to get to know each other and share some food together.

 Finally, on Thursday, BSW Site Manager and artist, Aye Min Thant walked students through a landscape painting workshop. Students painted meandering streams and mountain landscapes while learning basic painting techniques. Kids took their canvas masterpieces home to share with their families. 

At Buffalo String Works, we are not just interested in molding young musicians. It is a place for kids to flex their creativity and learn more about the world around them. Staff work daily to create new experiences for students in a safe and trusting environment.

BSW Soirée: A Night of Music, Community, and Impact

On March 28th, Asbury Hall was filled with music, conversation, and connection as Buffalo String Works welcomed over 125 guests to its spring benefit, the BSW Soirée! The evening raised $14,154 to support free, high-quality music education for refugee, immigrant, and historically marginalized youth in Buffalo.

Guests enjoyed a vibrant mix of performances, including the Love Supreme School of Music Faculty Ensemble, the dynamic Comienzos, and the premiere of Aka, a brand-new composition written especially for BSW students by Burmese composer and UC Berkeley PhD candidate Wai Hin Ko Ko. Performed by teaching artists and volunteers, Aka was a powerful centerpiece of the evening.

Aka was inspired by the traditional music of Myanmar’s different cultures, many of which are shared by students at Buffalo String Works. This piece reflects the mission of BSW: giving students the space to explore and share their own voices. By playing music from their heritage, students can think about who they are and what they can become. “The title ‘Aka’ means ‘dance’ in Burmese, but it represents more than movement, it is the rhythm of identity, a bridge between heritage and the present… From the energetic Kachin and martial-influenced Shan to the contemplative Mon and powerful Rakhine, each musical moment carries cultural significance. The Karenni’s funeral song honors loss, while the Karen’s folk tune captures childhood joy.” – Wai Hin Ko Ko

Throughout the night, conversations buzzed with energy and reflection. Guests shared personal connections to Buffalo String Works, offering stories of impact, inspiration, and hope. The feeling of community, where everyone believes in the power of music, was felt in every corner of the room.To all who made the Soirée such a meaningful evening, thank you. And to the broader BSW community, thank you for continuing to support the students, families, and teaching artists who make this work so special!

Healing Ourselves Youth Fellows: Leading Mental Health & Identity Workshops at Our Program

We are proud to highlight the start of an important journey for two of our students who have embarked on specialized training as part of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) initiative, Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Communities. These students are now preparing to lead meaningful conversations about mental health and identity within our program.

The workshop series is designed to foster mental health awareness, emotional well-being, and racial healing among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth. Through CACF's training, our students have gained essential skills to create safe, healing-centered environments where their peers can engage in open dialogue about these critical topics.

The title Healing Ourselves Youth Fellows reflects their commitment to both personal growth and community empowerment. As they prepare to lead Mental Health & Identity Workshops within our program, they bring their lived experiences and unique perspectives to the forefront. While they are at the very start of this journey, we are excited about the potential impact of their leadership.

The curriculum, developed in collaboration with eight AAPI youth-serving organizations, emphasizes the power of peer-to-peer leadership:

"Your voice and perspective matter. As a young person and leader, you are uniquely well-suited to lead these workshops and inspire your peers."

Our students are ready to step into this role, and while the workshops are just beginning, we are confident that their efforts will foster meaningful connections, reduce mental health stigmas, and encourage their peers to embrace their identities with confidence and pride.

As a community, we are inspired by the passion and dedication of these students. We look forward to sharing updates on their progress and the impact of their workshops as they continue to grow and lead. Stay tuned for more as this exciting journey unfolds.

Weaving Cultures in Sound: A New Composition for Our Students

For those who have been following our journey, you might remember that last year we embarked on an exciting collaboration with Wai Hin Ko Ko, a PhD candidate in composition at UC Berkeley. Originally from Myanmar, Wai set out to compose a piece specifically for Buffalo String Works’ students—a piece that will make its debut at our Spring Concert this June.

Wai’s composition is built around several different traditional songs, each representing one of Myanmar’s largest ethnic groups. These songs span a wide emotional spectrum—celebratory tunes, funeral laments, folk melodies, and children’s songs—woven together seamlessly with original transitional material. It’s an intricate sonic tapestry that captures the rich diversity of Myanmar’s musical heritage while being tailored to the skill levels of our students.

Recently, our Teaching Artists and staff had the chance to play the piece aloud for the first time. It was a special moment—not just for the music itself, but for the rare opportunity to come together as musicians before passing the piece on to our students.

Lizzie Seward, Teaching Artist and Program Coordinator, played the viola in the reading and shared her excitement about seeing the piece come to life. “Whenever we get a commissioned piece for our students, it’s such a cool experience. It feels really rewarding. You could hear different themes floating throughout the sections—it was masterfully woven together.”

Education Director Andrew Borkowski, who played the part written for our Team A cellists, reflected on how meaningful it was to play together as a teaching group. “We don’t often get to sit together and play the pieces that we will then teach to our students. It was illuminating to experience firsthand the benefits of making music together.”

One of the most striking moments came from the solo violin part, played by Teaching Artist Isabel Ong. Lizzie noted, “That solo part really tied everything together. Isabel was artfully masterful. It was so inspiring to see my fellow Teaching Artists in their element.”

Mr. Borkowski also remarked on how beautifully designed the composition is—not only is it idiomatic to the instruments, but it’s also intentionally structured to accommodate a range of skill levels. “There are lots of elements that can stand alone or be woven into the full piece,” Lizzie added. “It’s really versatile.”

This playthrough was meant to give our Teaching Artists an intimate understanding of the piece so they could begin planning how to introduce it to their students. The enthusiasm from the educators has been contagious, and some students are already diving in.

“I had my students try a section last week,” Lizzie shared. “There’s a part where pizzicato is paired with vocalization, and they absolutely loved it. It adds a dimension of sound you wouldn’t expect in a string piece.”

This is something truly unique—composed especially for our students, reflecting both their abilities and the deep cultural heritage it represents. Over the next few months, the piece will take shape in their hands, growing into something fully realized and uniquely their own. We can’t wait to share the final performance with you this June at our Spring Concert!