Who we are

Founded in 2023, Avanti is a group of dedicated musicians ranging from amateur to professional. Together we form an ensemble, whose repertoire spans the Baroque through the Modern. Avanti is also dedicated to aiding in the development of young local soloists and composers.

The organization's inaugural season began with its first concert in February 2024, featuring Vivaldi's Gloria, Bach's Cantata No. 48, Sleep by University at Buffalo student composer Jonathan Rainous, and Boyce's Symphony No. 1. The season continued with additional performances by the chorus in March and the orchestra in April, establishing Avanti as a dynamic new presence in Western New York's musical community.

Avanti's second season (2024–2025) expanded significantly, presenting six performances across five concert programs, including three major collaborations with local choral ensembles. In December, Avanti partnered with INCIPIO to perform Margaret Bonds' The Ballad of the Brown King and Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio. In April, the University at Buffalo Chamber Singers, under the direction of Claudia Brown, joined Avanti for performances of Bach's Cantata No. 79 alongside The Altar by Buffalo composer Roland E. Martin. The season concluded on June 1 with a collaborative performance featuring the St. Louis Choir, directed by Frank Scinta, and the Saint John Paul II Schola Cantorum. The program included Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G and the world premiere of a newly orchestrated version of Roland E. Martin's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, originally composed for chorus and organ and orchestrated especially for Avanti.

The 2025–2026 season marked another period of remarkable growth. Avanti presented eight performances across six concert programs, doubling the number of concerts typically offered by many community orchestras in the region. During the season, Avanti was also featured at Kleinhans Music Hall as part of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Community Spotlight series. The season culminated in a powerful performance of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, bringing together more than 100 musicians from across Western New York in one of the organization's largest collaborative projects to date.

As the organization has continued to evolve, the Avanti Chamber Orchestra and Chorus has adopted the name Avanti Music, or simply Avanti. The new name reflects the breadth of the organization's artistic vision, embracing not only chamber orchestra and choral repertoire but also full symphonic works, opera, contemporary music, and innovative collaborative performances. Today, Avanti remains committed to enriching the cultural life of Western New York through exceptional performances, meaningful artistic partnerships, and the cultivation of emerging musical talent.