Buffalo Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Jaman Dunn outside Kleinhans Music Hall. Photo by Sharon Cantillon
“Growing up in Chicago, where he fell in love with classical music at a tender age, Jaman Dunn noticed there were not many people being presented and celebrated in that world who looked like him,” writes Jeff Miers in Sunday’s (1/31) Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY). “So began a journey that led Dunn … to Buffalo, where, beginning in the 2018-19 season, he assumed duties as assistant conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and artistic director of the Buffalo Master Chorale.” With the arrival of the pandemic, “The extended BPO family and infrastructure kicked into high gear [with the] BPOnDemand and BPO Out of the Box series … [with musicians] performing in smaller subsets at safe, remote locations…. The BPOnDemand series has been extended, at least until March…. Dunn believes music can be a positive force in a nation struggling with notions of equality and justice…. ‘If you’re … saying, “I’m going to do some pieces by Black people because there are no Black composers being performed,” well, yes, we would like more representation. But don’t just do it for that reason…. Make sure that it’s real.’ ” The article also discusses how the orchestra is presenting concerts during the pandemic.
