Throughout its history, audiences have been able to attend ASO performances free of charge, though donations have always been welcome. In recognition of this unique policy, in 1999 the orchestra received a letter from Robert Leibholz of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers, stating, “It is simply remarkable that your orchestra has been able to function and even thrive with the limited resources that you have available. It is even more impressive that your orchestra has been able to sustain itself without charging admission. Congratulations to you … !” Indeed, the ASO is a unique organization: a long-time staple of the Amherst community, a reliable source of music and entertainment, a philanthropic source of music education and a thriving group of talented musicians. Its well-documented progress and success through the years tell the story of an orchestra truly intertwined with its community.

Beginning in the fall of 1946, the first 50 years of success for the orchestra were due in no small part to the unwavering devotion of its conductor, Joseph Wincenc, who had moved to the Amherst area to become director of orchestral activities at Amherst Central High School. A graduate of Bennett High School in Buffalo, Wincenc had gone on to study at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, the State Conservatory of Music at Prague, the George Enesco Studio in Paris and Columbia University. He had also been the leader of various bands in the U.S. Army while he served as a machine gunner during World War II. Just before relocating to Amherst, he served as a guest conductor of the Mediterranean Symphony (San Carlo Opera Orchestra).

In addition to conducting the ASO, Wincenc was a violinist in, and eventually associate conductor of, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also the founder of two other community orchestras, the Orchard Park Symphony and Clarence Summer Symphony.  If this were not enough, he taught music appreciation at Buffalo State College for nearly 40 years. His extensive travels and profound ability to make personal connections made him a major asset to the ASO. In every account, he is remembered by his friends and fellow musicians as energetic, compassionate and utterly steadfast in his love of music. 

Joan Fisburn, current general manager of the orchestra, joined the group in 1959. She remembers a time when, under the direction of Wincenc, the orchestra had a “Victorian-like graciousness.” Largely due to Wincenc’s direction, the orchestra had an energetic, sophisticated air, performing at extravagant events at Hengerer’s department store, followed by intimate coffee hours in the homes of local socialites. She also noted the influence of Wincenc’s wife, Margaret, a talented pianist who helped to run the orchestra and its social events. “It must be said,” recalls Fishburn, “that the overall foundation of the orchestra was the graciousness of the Wincences, and their friends that brought in the support in the first 50 years.”

As the years passed, the orchestra gradually became more sensible and charitable in its programming, obtaining funding from corporate donors along with county and state grants, while adjusting to the ever-growing Buffalo community and implementing outreach programs to further their mission. Despite the group’s progress, however, the longest-tenured musicians still hold a fondness for those early years, recalling a “different time in our society.”

Because of his outgoing nature and keen ability to network, Joseph Wincenc was able to book local and internationally known guest artists for the orchestra’s concerts, including several members of the BPO. He also aimed to provide diversified programming and to maintain the support of the community. It was his charisma and talent that kept his volunteer musicians coming back, year after year.  The cadre included professional musicians, music teachers and music therapists, of course, but also accountants, attorneys, doctors, dentists, chemists, students, homemakers, salespeople, retailers and executives. From all walks of life, the volunteers of the ASO came together, week after week, to rehearse.

Fishburn recalls that, on the morning after each rehearsal, Wincenc would phone each musician who had been absent the night before, just to make sure that they were alright.  “He and his wife truly cared for [the musicians]. That’s why he was there for 50 years.”

In 1996, after half a century of leadership, Joseph Wincenc retired; it was undoubtedly the end of an era for the Amherst Symphony Orchestra. He passed away in April 2003, but his daughter, Carol Wincenc, carries on his legacy, and is a Grammy-nominated Juilliard professor of flute. She has performed with the ASO on multiple occasions, including as part of a memorial concert for her father.

Following Wincenc’s retirement, the ASO began the search for a new conductor, eventually landing on Steven Thomas, a local violin, viola and piano player who was employed as director of multiple high school orchestras in the Amherst and Williamsville school districts. At the time, Thomas was a resident of Snyder and had been a guest conductor of the State University at Buffalo Civic Symphony since 1989. He was also employed by the university as a lecturer and conductor of the string ensemble.

It was under Thomas’ leadership that the orchestra extended its involvement in the community, reaching out to serve and share in more ways than ever before. In February 2014, Thomas summarized some of these community outreach efforts in a concert program. “Pre-concert events, presentations to school children, student program cover art projects, appearances at the Taste of Williamsville and Walk the Village, a Family Concert, and an instrument petting zoo are some of the examples of how we have expanded this role during my tenure as Music Director.”

The instrument petting zoo is one of the events most beloved by the Williamsville community, and continues to this day. Prior to one of the orchestra’s yearly concerts, children are welcome to come view the wares of local music shop owners, holding and touching the instruments, often for the first time in their lives. Thomas believed – as do the current members of the orchestra – that the petting zoo would inspire a lifelong appreciation for the wonder of music in the children.

In fact, engaging children is a primary focus for the ASO, as further evidenced by their school outreach program. Beginning in 1997, the orchestra has partnered with one area school each year, personally inviting students and their families to every concert. To generate enthusiasm for the performances, each student is able to submit a design for the program’s cover. The student whose design is selected receives a special honor during the concert.

During the winter months, several members of the ASO travel to the chosen partner school for an assembly, where they perform alongside student musicians. There, the musicians share their stories: how they began playing music, who or what inspires them and what they gain from having music in their lives. They demonstrate how to play each of their instruments and allow students to interact with them. As the orchestra observed in a formal statement regarding the program, “It may be, for many [students], their first formal exposure to orchestral instruments and the people who enjoy them.” 

Windermere Boulevard Elementary School art teacher Richard Zotara painted an evocative picture of the impact such face-to-face programs can have on young students in a 1999 letter to the orchestra:

“I understand that the representatives from the orchestra in attendance on March 9 gave their time freely from personal or work schedules in order to entertain and enlighten us … Rather than merely introduce an instrument and its sound, the performers allowed us to connect with a real person … We came away with the knowledge that no matter what path one takes in life it’s much more enriching (and fun) to go with musical accompaniment. Windermere children are often exposed to musical performances but the Amherst Symphony Orchestra brought a depth and intimacy that is rare. Any time the arts can be presented in such a meaningful and satisfying way to children makes the next generation of performers and patrons inevitable.”

Indeed, the program is designed to create an early bond between children and orchestral music, aiming to pass the torch of musicianship to a new generation.

In the early years of the program, the orchestra focused its outreach within the area’s public and private schools. More recently, however, the program has been extended into the City of Buffalo, especially to schools where many different languages are spoken. The language of music allows for a form of communication that requires no grasp of English, which makes it the perfect tool to reach any child, no matter their native language or English proficiency. Through the school visitation program, the orchestra has held year-long residencies at Windermere Boulevard Elementary School, Christian Central Academy, Futures Academy, Kadimah School, Badillo Bilingual Academy, Gateway-Longview Lynde School and International School #45, among others.

The orchestra’s 2015 residency at Badillo Bilingual Academy (Buffalo Public School #76) sought to bring music to the school’s 808 students, 50% of whom were English language learners, and 20% of whom had disabilities. In total, the students spoke 12 languages, though predominantly English and Spanish. At the time, the school was designated by New York State as a “priority school” that was “underachieving.” In response, the orchestra created a concert program featuring Spanish-European, Latin-American and American music, attempting to bridge not only the socio-economic divide, but cultural divides as well.

Similarly, during its 2016 residency with International School #45, the orchestra performed for 983 students from over 70 countries who spoke over 30 different languages, primarily English, Karen, Arabic, Somali, Burmese and Nepali. Following the performance, students wrote letters of thanks or drew pictures for the orchestra, including an anonymous letter from a teacher that stated, “Our students want to play music now more than ever.”

“Music is joy for everyone!” wrote Rachel.

“Awesome, just like Dad,” wrote Hrithilsa, whose father was presumably a musician as well.

As part of their residency program, the orchestra also provides a booklet in either English or Spanish, titled, The Symphony Goes to School: A Musical Guide to the Instruments of the Orchestra. The booklet includes photos of each instrument and a description of its sound and role in the orchestra, along with interactive, music-themed puzzles. By providing the booklets to students, the orchestra hopes to engage their critical thinking skills, as well as offer a memento of the year of residency. Also as part of these programs, ASO members emphasize to the children that music can be beneficial even as a hobby or casual pastime. Since very few students go on to become professional musicians, it is important to show them that even the ASO members are volunteers, and often have different careers entirely, but still perform for the love of music itself.

Through the school outreach program, the ASO has offered music assemblies and concerts to children as young as 18 months old. The orchestra’s mission is not limited to young children, however, as over the years they have sought to assist high school and college students as well. Students who need volunteer hours for honor societies – or who simply wish to volunteer their time – act as ushers for all ASO concerts, coordinated by the Youth Engaged in Service program. Further, each year the orchestra partners with the Williamsville Rotary Club to give a scholarship to a local high school senior, offering them the opportunity to pursue their musical goals at the collegiate level.

In 2006, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra was the recipient of the Outstanding Organization Award from the Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County. In 2014, it received similar accolades from the Town of Amherst Arts and Culture in Public Places Committee.   Supporting their selection, the Committee observed that,

For the past 30 years, the Friends [of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra] Committee has been a partner with the Rotary Club of Williamsville in presenting a scholarship to a local high school senior music student. In addition, the ASO is involved in Western New York’s robust community life, by having a presence in such public activities as the Taste of Williamsville and Walk the Village. The orchestra’s highly successful musical adoption of an area school each year has brought the gift of music up close and personal to thousands of students over the years.

In 2001, the orchestra began a collaboration with another subpopulation of the community: seniors. In partnership with MusicalFare Theatre, another Amherst-based organization, the ASO sat down to talk with residents of Beechwood Continuing Care, a nursing home in Getzville, NY. From those conversations came “The Stories of Life,” a theater piece that combined the life stories of the Beechwood seniors with a musical production. The piece earned not only the Innovative Program of the Year award from NYAHSA (New York Association for Homes and Services for Aging), but also the Artvoice Theater Award for Best New Play/Musical for the 2002/2003 season. Students from Daemen College’s psychology department were also involved with “The Stories of Life,” studying the therapeutic benefits of the production for the Beechwood residents.

According to a press release from MusicalFare Theatre, “The conversations resulted in more intrinsic benefits than anyone could have imagined at the outset. The wealth of life experiences articulated by 44 residents ranging in age 70 to 92 surprised the actors and actresses, and possibly even the residents themselves.” 

Even before “The Stories of Life” project, the ASO had been especially interested in providing for seniors in the community. The orchestra routinely delivers posters and invitations to the concerts to many senior facilities, and reserves seats for them at the concerts. Additionally, the group often travels to retirement facilities and senior centers to give special performances. Great care is taken to ensure that each concert is accessible to all attendees, including the elderly and/or disabled.

After implementing these programs and more, Steven Thomas and his family relocated to Allegany County in 2014, and thus his nearly 20 years of leadership in the ASO came to an end. While he may not be physically present, however, his community outreach legacy lives on in the orchestra to this day.

Since Thomas’ departure, the orchestra has not appointed another permanent conductor. Instead, they have featured several guest conductors, many of whom have returned more than once. The list of ensemble leaders includes Bryan Eckenrode, principal cello with the WNY Chamber Orchestra and Southern Tier Symphony Orchestra, and Armenio Suzano, dean and director of the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College. Both bring their unique educational and cultural backgrounds to the table, creating musical programs that are distinct and personal, but still as accessible to the wider community as ever.

In recent years, the orchestra’s outreach has continued, extending to include collaborations with such organizations as Buffalo String Works, which specializes in bringing music education to refugee children. The ASO has also worked with Buffalo Suzuki Strings, proponents of the Suzuki method of teaching children how to play music.

Beyond these focused collaborations, however, the orchestra’s engagement with local children is often highlighted during their “pre-concert,” held in the hour before each of their five yearly concerts. A soloist or group of students will greet the guests with music as they filter into the auditorium, setting the stage for the performance to come.

The orchestra’s annual calendar typically includes concerts held in October, December, February and April, as well as one outdoor concert during the summer. The December and February concerts are more family-oriented, held earlier in the day than the others, and featuring music that will be engaging to all ages. In particular, the December concert always includes some holiday-themed music, and a performance of “Jingle Bells” that calls for the children in the audience to play along with bells. The outdoor summer concert is also a family favorite. Originally held at the Amherst Museum, it was recently moved to Williamsville’s Island Park. According to Fishburn, the summer concert is a favorite of the orchestra members as well.

Through their regular concerts and the establishment of enriching outreach programs, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra has become a true staple of the Amherst community, and their performances have become favorite outings for all ages. The accessible nature of their music, as well as their free admission, has given people of all ages the gift of music. The ensemble has become synonymous with orchestral music in Western New York, recruiting the best of the best, and hosting some of the most prominent guests in the field. Thus, their success has not only been achieved through community involvement, but through musical excellence as well.

When Joseph Wincenc founded the ASO in 1946 as an adult education program, he could not have imagined what his orchestra would become. Nearly 75 years later, the ASO carries on, stronger than ever—a tribute to the foundation he laid. He could not have known that his friends would later become musical liaisons to the community, nor that they would do award-winning work with children and seniors. However, his kindness and commitment to his craft set the stage for what was to come: an all-encompassing testament to what makes music such a timeless pillar of the community.

To support the Amherst Symphony Orchestra or to learn more about upcoming performances, visit www.amherstsymphony.com.