Name: Clarence Town Park
Start: 2026-07-22T19:30:00
Location: Clarence Town Park

Grant O’Brien

Aurora Sandner

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

On Halloween night, the BPO transforms Kleinhans into a world of shadow, suspense, and orchestral storytelling. Led by Ron Spigelman, this hauntingly atmospheric program brings together music made for goosebumps, from John Williams’ Jaws and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique to Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre. Each work builds tension, drama, and dark beauty, creating a concert experience perfectly tuned to the spirit of the night.

Hauntingly Halloween

Kleinhans Music Hall

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 is one of his most gripping works, full of tension, elegance, and emotional depth. Pianist Yefim Bronfman brings commanding presence to the solo role, partnered by JoAnn Falletta and the BPO. John Adams’ The Chairman Dances adds rhythmic sparkle and motion, while Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra expands the orchestra into vast, cinematic territory. Together these works create a journey from crisp precision to awe, with the concert hall itself becoming part of the experience.

Bronfman Plays Mozart

Turn up the energy for a night of rock history with full orchestra, live vocals, and the swagger that made The Rolling Stones timeless. With Bradley Thachuk conducting and Mick Adams on lead vocals, these songs get the scale they deserve, bigger choruses, deeper grooves, and symphonic color that amplifies the riffs without smoothing their edge. This concert is built for fans who want the thrill of a rock show and the power of live orchestration in the same room. Expect iconic hooks, a crowd that recognizes the first notes instantly, and the kind of shared release that makes a Friday night feel like an event.

Music of The Rolling Stones

Trumpeter Chris Botti brings a signature sound that is intimate, warm, and beautifully refined. With Ron Spigelman and the BPO, this concert offers a rare blend of virtuosity and atmosphere, the kind of night that feels special without needing to be loud about it. Expect a performance shaped by tone, phrasing, and the quiet power of a single instrument rising above the orchestra. Whether you know Botti’s work well or are hearing him for the first time, this is an evening built for listeners who love elegance. Melodies linger, the room settles, and you leave with the feeling of having stepped out of the noise for a while.

Chris Botti

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra hosts incredible guest artists each year on our Classics Series. We make many of these masters available to the community in our Masterclass series. These artists will work one-on-one with talented local students in front of a live audience. All events are FREE with a required reservation.

Masterclass with Xavier Foley, double bass

Clement House Buffalo

Step into the sweep of a great city and the intimacy of a singular voice. Keith Lockhart leads Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 2, “A London Symphony,” a richly detailed portrait that moves from bustle to reflection to open sky. Double bass virtuoso Xavier Foley takes center stage in his own Soul Bass Concerto, offering a rare chance to hear the instrument’s full range, from deep resonance to agile lyricism. With Chadwick’s “Jubilee” setting the tone, the program pairs American color with British grandeur in music that feels both personal and panoramic.

Vaughan Williams & Double Bass

See the holiday classic in the most joyful way, with the full film on screen while your BPO performs John Williams’ captivating score live. Kevin McAllister’s madcap defense of his home is still hilarious, and the live orchestra adds warmth, suspense, and extra sparkle to every scene. It is family friendly, perfectly timed for the season, and ideal for starting a tradition. The laughter hits harder, the tender moments land together, and the music feels bigger because it is happening right in front of you. Come with kids, friends, or your own inner crafty 8-year-old and enjoy a night that feels like the holidays arriving in real time.

Home Alone Film in Concert

Cody Fry brings a holiday concert shaped by orchestral color, storytelling, and a uniquely heartfelt tone. With Fry on piano, guitar, and vocals, the evening blends nostalgic holiday classics with his own signature songs, including I Hear a Symphony and Underground. What sets this night apart is its sense of craft. Arrangements are designed for the full sound of the orchestra, and the show builds an emotional arc that feels like a journey rather than a medley. It is a holiday concert for people who want warmth without cliché, festive sparkle paired with genuine feeling. Come for the glow, and leave with the sense that you were restored by the music.

Cody Fry Christmas

If you love the season’s glow but crave something quieter and more luminous, this concert is your tradition. JoAnn Falletta leads an elegant program with tenor John Riesen and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, shaped for reflection as much as celebration. Rather than hustle, this is an invitation to pause and let the hall’s warmth, voices, and orchestral color create space. Expect music that feels like candlelight, uplifting and resonant with a calm center. It is a Classical Christmas that offers what the season rarely does on its own, room to breathe and leave a little steadier.

JoAnn’s Classical Christmas

Make the holidays feel magical and manageable. Jingle Bell Jam combines festive music, holiday decorations, pre-concert activities, and a sing-along into an experience built for families. With Grant O’Brien conducting, the orchestra brings seasonal favorites to life in a way that is bright, interactive, and easy to love. Santa conducts the orchestra, adding an extra layer of wonder for kids and a lot of smiles for grown-ups. Whether you come at noon or 4pm, expect music that invites participation and moments designed for wide eyes and big grins. It is not just a concert; it is a shared holiday memory made in real time.

Jingle Bell Jam

Holiday Pops is Buffalo’s most cherished seasonal tradition for a reason. It is pure shared joy. Under Ron Spigelman, the BPO fills Kleinhans with familiar favorites, fresh surprises, and the warmth you feel the moment you walk into the hall. With guest artists to be announced and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus on stage, this concert is designed for families, friends, and anyone who wants a holiday outing that feels uplifting rather than hectic. Expect sparkle, singable moments, and that unmistakable feeling when the whole room is in it together. Come for the music, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with the season feeling a little brighter.

Holiday Pops

Dvořák’s Violin Concerto combines lyrical warmth with quicksilver energy, and violinist Bella Hristova brings the solo role to life with both brilliance and intimacy. Conductor Valentina Peleggi shapes the program with a clear sense of momentum and color. Dvořák’s Fifth Symphony completes the evening with bright spirit and generous melody, expanding the sound into a wide horizon. Together, the concerto and symphony create a richly satisfying journey, soloist and orchestra in conversation, then the full ensemble opening outward in radiant orchestral bloom.