UUCB’s Casual Concerts aim to share the universal ministry of music and the power of sound with the broader Buffalo community. As we do in our services, these concerts showcase a diverse range of musical styles and sound-based experiences so that there is something for everyone. We hope these monthly offerings help lift our community’s spirits. Events generally occur every third Saturday of the month at 2pm, or at the specific days and times listed below. You can watch the shows in our sanctuary or stream them on our YouTube page. A free-will offering will be taken and proceeds are split between the musical presenters and the church.
If you wish to submit a proposal for our concert series, please click the button below. Please read our Casual Concerts FAQ for important information about our procedures.
Upcoming Concerts:
Marino Duo
Saturday, February 15 at 2pm
The Marino Duo, husband-and-wife Andrew and Jessica Marino, has been captivating audiences with their guitar and piano performances since 2020. Their music spans classical, Latin, and contemporary styles, showcasing their versatility and depth.
Guitarist Andrew Marino has performed widely, including at The Walters Art Museum and St. Paul’s Cathedral. His repertoire includes classical and contemporary works, earning him accolades such as prizes from the Appalachian State University’s GuitarFest Competition.
Pianist Jessica Marino brings her expertise in piano performance and pedagogy, having performed across the U.S. and Europe. Her collaborations include Carmina Burana with the Canterbury Choral Society in New York City. Together, their performances offer a rich and harmonious musical experience.
https://www.marinoduo.com/media
Behind the Scenes of Sotto Voce's Lucia di Lammermoor
Saturday, March 15 at 2pm
Join the cast of Sotto Voce's production of Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti for a special sneak-preview of the show (Friday March 28th and Sunday, March 30th). Sotto Voce's Founding Director and UUCB's own Jessie Downs (the "mad" Lucia) and mezzo-soprano Beth White (her advisor, Alisa), local tenor Tyler Huk (her fatefully betrothed, Arturo) and bass Tim Flynn (Raimondo, her teacher) will be joined by NJ-based guest vocalists Jax Hassler (Edgardo, her lover) and Stephen Walley (Enrico, her manipulative brother) in a display of bel canto vocal strength and agility at its finest. Director Alex Huddleston will also share insights into Sotto Voce's signature "opera nouveau" style and how it will manifest in this immersive and playful production that highlights the athleticism of the opera. (Friday, March 28th and Sunday, March 30th - Stay tuned to Sotto Voce's website for details).
https://sottovocevocalcollective.com
CAN-AM Trio
Saturday, April 26 at 2pm
The CAN-AM Trio was created in 2019 by oboists Geralyn Giovannetti of Utah and Sarah Hamilton from The State University of New York at Fredonia, and Anna Mattix, the English hornist with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Both Geralyn and Sarah are Canadian citizens and Anna is American, hence the name. As good friends and colleagues they share a long musical association and friendship and perform together to promote the rich musical tradition of trios written for two Oboes and English horn. This type of chamber music ensemble has been in existence since the 1800's when Beethoven famously wrote two notable works for this combination. Since then, composers have delighted in the rich orchestral sound of this trio.
CAN-AM Trio performances include both historical and contemporary works, especially those written more recently by Canadian, American, and British composers. In 2021, the CAN-AM Trio was awarded a grant by the Canada Council for the Arts to commission, record and tour. The trio has presented recitals in both Canada and the US and premiered new works by composers, Elizabeth Raum, Shreya Ya, Ron Royer, and Rob Deemer. They will complete their first CD recording in the fall of 2023. They have performed throughout Canada and the United States and have recently been invited to perform at the conference of the International Double Reed Society.
Stephen Guerra and Ken Luk: Instrumental Brazilian Choro Duo
Saturday, May 17 at 2pm
6-string guitarist Stephen Guerra and 8-string bandolinist Ken Luk play vibrant Brazilian choro, a virtuosic and melodic instrumental music related to samba.
Italian American guitarist-composer STEPHEN GUERRA performs and teaches Brazilian choro around the world, often touring with legend Rogério Souza. Stephen’s published multiple albums and scores with Mel Bay, Guitar Chamber Music Press, and independently on Bandcamp and streaming platforms, including his album of originals recorded in Brazil, No Balanço do Choro-Samba (November 2023). Stephen teaches music theory and the choro ensemble at the University at Buffalo.
KEN LUK, born and raised in Hong Kong, frequently appears as a soloist and with the Janus Guitar Duo and Trio Ghidorah. He performs with Rosa Boemia, Forró Estrelas do Norte, Mosaic Foundation, the Eastman Gamelan Ensemble, and the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra. Performance highlights include Experiencing Villa-Lobos Festival, Live from Hochstein, Rochester Fringe Festival, The Great Blue Heron Festival, and Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, among others. Co-founder of Rochester Classical Guitar and the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra, Ken is also an avid arranger, and was a finalist in the 2017 Roland Dyens Arranging International Competition. He also serves on the board of the Classical Mandolin Society of America.
Links:
stephenpaulguerra.com
youtube.com/stephenguerra
East Coast Dave
Saturday, June 21 at 2pm
Solo acoustic folk/blues/Americana. Fingerpicking 6 and 12 strng guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, and vocals. Original compositions plus wide ranging cover songs spanning the 1920s to the 1990s, presented in a folk/blues style.
In addition to my own compositions, I do covers of traditional folk, blues, and country songs, and even more contemporary (relatively speaking) pop and rock songs delivered in a folk style. If picked for this concert series, I would curate the material for the concert so that all songs performed would be appropriate for a church setting.
Official website:
https://eastcoastdave.com/
A demo recorded live to give one an idea of my performance style:
https://soundcloud.com/davidmaguire-1/sets/east-coast-dave-demo-december-11-2023
My latest EP on bandcamp (recorded "live" in the studio with no overdubs):
https://eastcoastdave.bandcamp.com/album/smite-return
Jacob Swanson
Saturday, August 16 at 2pm
Hailed as a “soloist with impeccable taste,” and praised by audiences and composers for his "gorgeous, lyrical tone, spectacular technique, and heartfelt musicality ..." for presenting "the soprano saxophone at the height of its beauty," Jacob Swanson has performed throughout North America and Europe on concert series, television, and radio.
Since 2011, Swanson has performed regularly as member of the Decho Ensemble which he co-founded with Sarah Marchitelli. Decho Voce, a partnered ensemble dedicated to exploring repertoire for voice and saxophone, was established in 2019 with Dr. Katherine Petersen (soprano). Decho’s repertoire includes established works for saxophone, transcriptions, and new works written expressly for their ensembles. Decho has participated in residencies at Mercyhurst University, Idaho University Moscow, and with the NyMusikks Komponistgruppe in Oslo, Norway. They have presented at the PULS festival, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, United States Navy International Saxophone Symposium, Ethos New Music Festival, Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project, and North American Saxophone Alliance.
Swanson's debut album, Invisible Cities (2016), featured works for soprano saxophone and piano (James Welch) and was met with critical acclaim for "remind[ing] us what a beautiful instrument the soprano saxophone is ... [performing with] handsome tone, flawless technique, and great musical sensibilities."-ClevelandClassical His second album, wired. (2017), featured music for soprano saxophone and electronic medium - nearly all composer/performer collaborations. Swanson has additionally recorded with Andrew Cote as part of his debut album, Ulterior Motives (2016) and with Decho Ensemble on their self-titled debut album(2023).
https://www.jacobswanson.com/
Tom Robert
Saturday, September 20 at 2pm
Tom Robert is a Buffalo NY born and bred singer-songwriter whose sound is deeply rooted in traditional blues, folk, and country and also incorporates elements of the music from his childhood - 60s/70s folk and rock and 90s/00s alternative.
His finger-picked guitar playing draws on the approaches of Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, and Leo Kottke, and his vocals are reminiscent of Paul Simon, Rufus Wainwright, and Jeff Buckley.
Tom’s performances evoke nature, nostalgia, and joy; he’s been playing, singing, and writing songs since he was a young child. Tom's music is a reflection of his growing connection to his roots and his playful exploration of his craft.Franco explores these themes through music, storytelling, and humor in his concerts. "Music has been my favorite form of Jewish observance ever since childhood, when we sang zmiros around my beloved Bubbe and Zeda's Shabbat table every Friday night. So this is super meaningful and super fun for me."
https://www.tomrobertmusic.com/
Lewis Franco
Saturday, October 18 at 2pm
According to Dan Bolles of SevenDaysVT, "Precious few hepcatamounts swing like Lewis Franco. The central Vermont guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader has almost single-handedly kept the jump and jive alive in the Green Mountains, wailing away with swagger and unimpeachable cool for nearly two decades." But Franco says he eventually noticed that most of the jazz and show tunes he loved were not just written by Jews (Berlin, the Gershwin's, Rodgers & Hart, Kern, Arlen, etc…), but were informed by Jewish values and concerns. His YouTube series, "Franco the ReJewvenator" is a result. "I relate to these songwriters as nervous outsiders, observing American life while seeking a sense of belonging. And they weren't looking casually. They had either been persecuted themselves, or they felt the effects of centuries of European antisemitism. For them, the question of whether somewhere over the rainbow the American dream of a multicultural democracy really does come true, or if it's only a paper moon, was high stakes."
Franco explores these themes through music, storytelling, and humor in his concerts. "Music has been my favorite form of Jewish observance ever since childhood, when we sang zmiros around my beloved Bubbe and Zeda's Shabbat table every Friday night. So this is super meaningful and super fun for me."
https://www.lewisfrancosongs.com/
Franco The ReJewvenator on Youtube
