Buffalo String Works

The inspiration for Buffalo String Works occurred after a concert in March 2014 at P.S. 45 International School, an elementary school on Buffalo’s west side. Elise Alaimo, the music teacher at the school and BSW co-founder, received funding to engage a group of musicians, which included co-founders, Yuki Numata Resnick and Virginia Barron, to play for her students. What transpired that day was very special indeed!

After playing a movement of Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quartet in C Minor, the students were asked what the music meant to them. A little boy peered out from underneath the desk and said, “I think it means, ‘I love you so much’”. He was right on, intuitively understanding so well what the music was communicating. The students overwhelmed us with their attention and focus; crowding around afterwards, asking questions, wanting to try the instruments, asking “When can we play?!”

“When, indeed?” we asked ourselves. It was in answer to this question that Buffalo String Works was born.

Buffalo String Works opened its doors in September 2014. We offered violin lessons to 17 students and had a volunteer staff of 4 teachers and 3 teaching assistants. Over the past decade, we've grown exponentially!

We now offer Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass lessons to refugee, immigrant, and marginalized communities across Buffalo and have a dedicated staff of 10 full-time admin, 4 part-time staff, and 17 talented teaching artists. Our program runs at 4 sites across Buffalo annually: Niagara St, NativityMiguel Middle School, Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School, and the Lifelong Learners class at the Community Health Centers of Buffalo!

We will serve 185 students this year with another 20 expected to join the program this summer. With the support of dedicated community members like you, we can continue to inspire the next generation's leaders.

Buffalo String Works' Mission is to ignite personal and community leadership through accessible, youth-centered music education.