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 contact Dr. Jessie Downs at jdowns@buffalouu.org. Please read our Casual Concerts FAQ for important information about our procedures.
Upcoming Concerts:
Duo Purla
Saturday, April 20th 2024 at 2pm
We are thrilled to welcome back Duo Purla! They are a Buffalo-based violin and guitar duo performing classical and contemporary chamber music. They pride themselves on presenting widely varied and engaging repertoire for any audience. In addition to classical works by Beethoven, Haydn, Paganini, Piazzolla and others, their sets include newly commissioned pieces and original compositions. They were a featured ensemble at the 21st Century Guitar Conference held in Muncie, IN and were the resident ensemble for the 2021 Festival virtual conference.
Stephen Guerra and Ken Luk: Instrumental Brazilian Choro Duo
Saturday, May 18th 2024 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.
Andrew Chukwuka Egbuchiem, countertenor
Saturday, June 22nd at 2pm
We are delighted to have countertenor Andrew Chukwuka Egbuchiem performing for our Casual Concert series this coming June! Andrew is a native of Illah in Delta State Nigeria, and studied Voice at the Adeniran Ogunsanya college of Education, Ijanikin. An award-winning performer, Andrew made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2018.
Learn more about this versatile and enchanting singer at https://andrewegbuchiem.com/bio.html
Ravi Padmanabha and David Mussen
Saturday, July 20th at 2pm
Ravi Padmanabha and David Mussen have played music for many years in various groups. The recently formed duo encompasses a new found musical language . The musicians have combined years of various musical styles into the duo. They use Gongs, crystal bowls, tabla, hand pan, clarinet, and ocean drum to create a full musical experience. They create a musical journey that traverses ambient meditation to ecstatic trance music.
Echezonachukwu Nduka, Resounding African Pianism
Saturday, August 17 at 2pm
Echezonachukwu Nduka is a Nigerian-born pianist and poet currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Nduka specializes in the classical piano music of composers from West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ghana. His program will include piano pieces by composers such as Akin Euba, Joshua Uzoigwe, J.H. Kwabena Nketia, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Christian Onyeji, Innocent Okechukwu, among others, and will include a brief talk of about 10-12 minutes as a way of introducing the pieces to the audience. Mr. Nduka looks forward to showcasing this rarely performed repertoire in classical music.
A piece from Resounding African Pianism, composed by J. H. Kwabena Nketia (Ghana), played by Echezonachukwu Nduka.
Blues on Weck
Saturday, September 21 at 2pm
Blues on Weck will be playing a one-hour set of electric Chicago-style blues covering works by legends such as Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, BB King, and Buddy Guy. Their unique male/female vocal combination, incendiary dual lead guitar attack, Little Walter-sequence harmonica, and a groovin’ rhythm section make this a show not to be missed!