All 194 seats in the brand new Louis P. Ciminelli Recital Hall were filled to see the
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s award-winning conductor and classical guitarist JoAnn
Falletta perform at the grand opening on Sunday night.
Falletta performed with clarinetist Robert Alemany and Buffalo State’s ensemble-in-
residence, the Clara String Quartet, performing the works of Paganini, Boccherini, and
Kreutzer.
The performance began after donors were honored with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Recital Hall is located on the third floor of Rockwell Hall and occupies the space
that formally housed the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The construction of the Recital
Hall began after the Burchfield Penney opened across the street, leaving empty space in
Rockwell Hall, said Steve Shaffer, manager of design and construction last year when the
construction began.
The $5.5 million project was made possible by the Ciminelli Family Foundation, which
donated $750,000 to the music department. It is part of the historic $20 million Buffalo
State campus-wide initiative, Transforming Lives: A Campaign for Buffalo State,
according to Dr. Tomas Henriques, assistant professor of music theory and composition.
“We are all very excited,” said Mary Dwyer, director of corporate and foundation
relations for the office of development. “We were able to secure over $1 million in
endowment scholarship funds.”
The hall features a fully restored Mason and Hamlin concert piano, a raised stage, an
adjacent state-of-the-art recording studio, a 7.1 surround sound system, a modern green
room and great acoustics, making it “one of the best equipped halls in the country,”
Henriques said.
The intimate setting will be one of the hall’s best assets. It will allow multi-channel
research, with the ability for the campus to host workshops and conferences in sound
specialization. The space can be programmed to simulate acoustics for a particular
environment, according to the campus’ website.
The hall also has the ability to hold joint performances.
“Overall, we are very happy,” Henriques said. “Everything has been going to plan.”
The music department has been growing steadily the past five years, and the opening of
the Recital Hall is a reflection of that.
“Dr. Fuster has had a very fundamental role in terms of giving visibility to the program
and making it grow,” Henriques said.
Over the next three years, Buffalo State will be seeking philanthropic support from
alumni, friends, business, and foundations to build its long-established strength and
provide a platform for future growth, according to a school press release.
The next big-name performance is on Feb. 5 by violinist Midori. The $500 ticket benefit
concert will include a pre-performance catered dinner, and a permanent recital hall seat
namesake. The proceeds will go to the music program and music student scholarships.
Mike Mazzuto can be reached by email at mazzuto.record@live.com.