Page 1 - GC Nov-Dec 2022

A NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GERMAN-AMERICANS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK
AUSTRIA • GERMANY • LIECHTENSTEIN • SWITZERLAND
Vol. 10 No. 6 November-December 2022 Issue

Dortmund students given Buffalo welcome UB Department of Music

embers of the Buffalo and BPO collaborate to
Dortmund Sister City
MCommittee arranged a commemorate Lukas Foss
tour on Oct. 12, 2022 for visiting
students from Dortmund who are ukas Foss (1922-
part of the Fall semester high school
2009) was a com-
Buffalo Dortmund Student Ambas- Lposer, conductor,
sador Program. Paul Jones, Joe Ro-
pianist and visionary
etter and Michael Riester started the
whose legendary contri-
tour off at City Hall. The tour in-
butions to the Buffalo arts
cluded the City Hall Observation
scene were transforma-
deck with great views of downtown
tive. From 1963 to 1970,
and Lake Erie followed by a visit to
Foss served as the music
the Common Council Chambers.
director of the Buffalo
The staff of Council Member Fero-
Philharmonic Orchestra
letto (Delaware District) were very
(BPO), championing the
helpful and spoke to the students
works of living compos-
about the operations of city govern-
ers and 20th century mu-
ment.
sic. In 1964, he
The group then walked to the AT THE FEDERAL COURT: Visiting students from Dortmund
Federal Courthouse for a scheduled posed with Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy and Buffalo Dort- co-founded and served as
co-director of the Center
meeting with Magistrate Judge Jere- mund Committee member Paul Jones who organized a recent visit.
miah McCarthy. As an undergradu- for Creative and Performing Arts at “Under Lukas, our orchestra
the University at Buffalo, where he
ate student he had studied for a year Dortmund 20th anniversary plaque John Jason (JJ) Peterka, a 20-year- became known for the wildest
ushered in innovative works and
in Innsbruck, and had been looking inscribed with the poem “Wer ist old forward from Munich, has made and most imaginative
performances for more than two de-
forward to meeting the German stu- John Maynard?” by Theodor Fon- the Buffalo Sabres opening night programs of new music that
cades.
dents. He was very welcoming, and tane. A duplicate plaque is dis- roster, and will wear uniform No.
“Lukas Foss had a long and vital was happening anywhere,”
gave the students a very good civics played in Dortmund’s City Hall. 77. Last season JJ played for the
connection to the Department of said BPO Music Director
lesson about the courts in the United They were given a copy of the poem Rochester Amerks where he was
Music and its faculty. As co-found-
States, both federal and state. and some of them confirmed that it named to the AHL All-Rookie JoAnnFalletta
er of the Rockefeller-funded Center
Judge McCarthy invited the is still taught in school. Team, and he played in two games
group to stay in his courtroom to From the marina the group went with the Sabres. Once the current of the Creative and Performing Arts ry Music/Department of Music per-
(along with UB Music Department
observe an arraignment in Federal to the Buffalo Yacht Club where season is underway Collard will try formance, talk, and viewing of Foss
Chair Allen Sapp), he was crucial to
Court. After the arraignment, the Roetter had arranged a limited menu to arrange for the Dortmund stu- documentary on Oct. 5 at DiMenna
the project of bringing to UB a truly
Assistant US Attorney handling the lunch – not surprisingly, the cheese- dents to meet JJ, and perhaps attend Center for Classical Music, New
astounding list of guest composers
case spoke to the students explain- burgers were a big hit with the stu- a team practice. York City
and performers (the Creative Asso-
ing to them what took place and dents. The current group of 15 students ciates, as these guests are often And finally, the BPO/Robert
answered several questions from the Honorary German Consul Mat- are attending Canisius High School, and Carol Morris Center for 21st
group. thew Collard joined everyone for St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, called) for ground-breaking work in Century Music/Department of Mu-
the field of New Music,” said Jona-
The tour moved on to the Erie lunch. Collard told the students that Mount St. Mary Academy, Nardin sic held a collaborative event at Slee
Basin Marina to view the Buffalo Academy and Buffalo Seminary. than Golove, associate professor Hall on Oct. 25.
and co-director of the Robert and
Carol Morris Center for 21st Centu- According to BPO’s website,
ry Music. Buffalo hosted the First Festival of
A musical prodigy, the German- the Arts in 1965 and a sequel in
born Foss began playing harmoni- 1968 during Foss’s tenure as music
um (a keyboard instrument similar director of BPO, and both events
to an organ) as a toddler and began featured the glittering stars of the
composing at the age of 7 and was avant-garde in music, art, dance,
first published at the age of 15. and writing and brought thousands
“Foss was a versatile and prolif- of spectators and rave reviews from
ic composer who left an indelible the national press. Foss was known
impression upon the Buffalo arts for working closely with new talent
and music scene in the 60s and 70s and performing alongside small
that continues to inspire,” says Rob- groups of virtuosic performers to
in Schulze, PhD, Dean of the UB create forward-looking works of
College of Arts and Sciences and electrifying spontaneity.
member of the BPO Board of Trust- “Foss’s musical collaborations
ees. “We are excited and pleased to with the Creative Associates were
be part of the celebration of Foss’ top-notch and widely heralded, and
legacy.” the concert we will present in New
In commemoration of what York City is an echo of the many
would have been his 100th birthday programs Foss brought to NYC with
this year, the BPO and the Depart- the Creative Associates,” Golove
ment of Music celebrated the life said. “Through his combined activi-
Re-branded Fall Fest incorporated many and works of Foss in September and ties with UB and the BPO, it’s fair
to say that Lukas played a signifi-
October 2022 through six concerts,
including a performance at the pres- cant role in placing Buffalo on the
Oktoberfest concepts in Williamsville tigious Carnegie Hall. map internationally among centers
The Robert and Carol Morris for contemporary classical music.
by Steve Dlugosz and several revelers in attendance Center for 21st Century He was also personally important to
he name of the festival may wore traditional lederhosen outfits Music/Department of Music perfor- many at UB, past and present.”
According to BPO Music Direc-
have changed, but the Sep- and alpine hats. The Williamsville mance on Sept. 18 in Slee Hall fea-
Ttember 16-17 Fall Festival in Business Association was instru- tured members of UB's Slee tor JoAnn Falletta, the Lukas Foss
era is generally regarded as a golden
Williamsville incorporated many of mental in coordinating the overall Sinfonietta, and Foss's masterwork
the previous concepts held as part of festival, and Ellie Grenauer, co- "Time Cycle," along with a cycle of age of modernism in Buffalo, a time
when the BPO played more new
the Village's previous Oktoberfest owner of Glen Park Tavern, was shorter works spanning five de-
celebrations. busy coordinating the evening's ac- cades. music than all the other orchestras
in the country combined.
The festival, held at Island Park tivities in Island Park with several There was a BPO Coffee Con-
“Under Lukas, our orchestra be-
and nearby sites throughout Wil- other volunteers. cert on Sept. 30 at Kleinhans Music came known for the wildest and
liamsville, featured both family "It's great to see a solid crowd Hall and The Lukas Foss Legacy –
friendly as well as adult activities, out and about here. It's nice for the BPO performance on Oct. 1. most imaginative programs of new
music that was happening any-
with everything from Farmer's Mar- village and the businesses in Wil- On Oct. 3 was the Lukas Foss
ket to scarecrow-building and live liamsville to be part of this (celebra- Centennial Celebration at Carnegie where. He talked about BPO con-
stantly – it was such a happy time of
bands/beer tent activities. The popu- tion)," said Grenauer, who noted Hall followed by the Robert and
lar band Nerds Gone Wild opened Carol Morris Center for 21st Centu- Continued on page 4
the weekend's festivities on Friday, Continued on page 8