About BCAS
Buffalo Choral Arts Society is a 130-voice auditioned choral ensemble. As a true choral society, BCAS is more than a community chorus. We’re a choral community made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests, brought together by our shared love of making music together and our passion to enlighten, elevate and enrich the lives of others by raising our voices in song.
City of Light
60th Anniversary Season
Join us for Buffalo Choral Arts Society's 60th Anniversary Season: City of Light!
History
Buffalo Choral Arts Society was founded in 1965 by the late Robert F. Schulz. A Buffalo native, Robert Schulz was a teacher, musician and conductor of national renown. A true showman and innovator, he founded this Western New York chorus under his conviction that “ordinary people in a chorus can make great music.”
After his passing in 1983, the chorus enlisted John Ricca as its new conductor with the goal of carrying on Bob’s dream of making beautiful music. When Mr. Ricca was forced to retire for health reasons in 1987, Marcia A. Giambrone was selected to be the new conductor and music director. Under her leadership, BCAS continued its commitment to performing great choral works and classic choral literature.
In 2023, after 36 seasons guiding the chorus, Ms. Giambrone retired, and Buffalo Choral Arts Society welcomed David Curtis to the podium. He currently serves as conductor and music director and is just the fourth in that position over the last 60 years.
Milestones
Touring and special events
1994 BCAS members toured in Europe, performing in Dublin, London, Paris and in Normandy at the American Cemetery and Memorial.
1997 The chorus performed in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria, as well as in Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic.
1999 BCAS toured in the Provence Region of France and in Barcelona, Spain.
2009 BCAS traveled to Quebec City on a Canadian tour that concluded with a concert at the world-renowned Basilica of St. Anne de Beaupré.
2011 BCAS launched its first American concert tour in Washington, D.C., performing at the Washington National Cathedral, Walter Reed Army Hospital, and on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
2012 - 2016 Buffalo Choral Arts Society was voted “Buffalo's Best” for five consecutive years by Artvoice magazine readers.
July 2015 The chorus embarked on a concert tour in New York City, performing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the United Nations and the Statue of Liberty.
2016 BCAS members perform with Foreigner live at Seneca Niagara Casino.
June 5, 2016 BCAS’s 50th Anniversary Season culminated in a once-in-a-lifetime concert featuring world-renowned composer and conductor Dr. Z. Randall Stroope as guest conductor and the premiere performance of commissioned piece “O Lux Beatissima”.
October 11, 2018 BCAS became the first chorus ever to be inducted into the prestigious Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.