2025 Festival Schedule!

 The 2025 Festival schedule is here! Only 11 days until the festival begins! 

Sunday, June 1

 

Opening concert: Baird Recital Hall, 6:30pm

Participant composers perform their original solo works

Monday, June 2

 

Composer lecture: George Lewis, BRH, 10am-12pm

 

Afternoon workshop/concert: Kyle Hutchins, BRH, 4pm

Sax workshop for composers

 

Evening concert: Lippes Concert Hall (LCH), 7:30pm

Solo works performed by pianist Eric Huebner (JiB composers George Lewis, David Sanford, and Andrew Nixon, along with those of Roger Reynolds, Leah Muir, and György Ligeti)

Tuesday, June 3

 

Composer lecture: Karola Obermüller, BRH 10am-12pm

 

Afternoon Concert: Meridian Arts Ensemble, BRH 4pm

Works by senior and participant composers for brass quintet, including the world premiere of Peter Gilbert’s A Rift Becomes a River and George Lewis’s Tightrope (2023)

Evening concert: Slee Sinfonietta, LCH, 7:30pm

Conducted by James Baker

Large ensemble works by JiB senior and participant composers, including David Sanford’s Chamber Concerto No. 5

Wednesday, June 4

 

Composer lecture: Jonathan Golove, June in Buffalo artistic director, BRH 10am-12pm

 

Afternoon concert: Members of the Slee Sinfonietta, BRH, 4pm

Solos and chamber works by JiB composers

 

Evening concert: [Switch~ Ensemble], Lippes Concert Hall, 7:30pm

Conducted by Wei-Han Wu, with soprano Tiffany Du Mouchelle

Ensemble works by JiB composers, including George Lewis’s Anthem, David Sanford’s Grace Canticles, and Peter Gilbert’s Meditation upon the Awakening

 

Thursday, June 5

 

Composer lecture: Ming Tsao, BRH 10am-12pm

Afternoon concert: [Switch~ Ensemble], BRH, 4pm

Conducted by Wei-Han Wu

Ensemble works by JiB composers, featuring Ming Tsao’s Canon (2001) and Dritte Stimme zu Bachs zweistimmigen Rätselkanons (2023, US premiere)

 

Evening concert: Baird B1, 7:30pm

Composer’s Cabaret Improvisation Ensemble

 

 

Friday, June 6

 

Composer lecture: David Sanford, BRH, 10am-12pm

 

Afternoon concert: BRH, 2-5:30 pm [Note: unusual start time]

A special concert of the music of Morton Feldman

For Christian Wolff, performed by flutist Lihuen Sirvent and pianist James Falzone

 

Evening concert: Meridian Arts Ensemble, LCH, 7:30pm

Works by JiB composers, including David Sanford’s Credo (2021)

 

 

Saturday, June 7

Composer lecture: Peter Gilbert, BRH, 10am-12pm

Closing concert: Slee Sinfonietta, LCH, 2:30pm

Conducted by James Baker, with soprano Tiffany Du Mouchelle

Works by JiB senior composers Ming Tsao, George Lewis, and Karola Obermüller's Bridges to Ruth (2024), along with works by JiB participant composers

 

Reception to follow Slee Sinfonietta concert

 

BONUS CONCERT: Metropolis Ensemble, Silo City, 6pm

New works by UB composers

June in Buffalo in the Press!

June in Buffalo was proud to have the Buffalo Philharmonic join us at recent festivals, most recently conducted by Fernanda Lastra in the Festival's first program comprised entirely of works by female composers. On the occasion of her BPO swan song, Ms. Lastra was interviewed by a local culture magazine. From the magazine:

Lastra also supports contemporary classical music composers through continued involvement with the internationally acclaimed University at Buffalo's June in Buffalo Festival, where she has made some of the most challenging music accessible to concert-goers: "It has been a unique experience working alongside remarkable living composers at the June in Buffalo Music Festival. Collaborating directly with composers is not only fascinating but also enriching. It provides conductors real-time interactions with composers and insights that deepen our understanding of the music-making process. Moreover, the pieces highlighted in this festival often push the boundaries of music and creativity, challenging both musicians, myself as a conductor, and the audience to explore new sounds and artistic expressions that are at the forefront of contemporary classical music."

Read more at the Buffalo Spree.