By Kevin Heffernan
Image: BSW performs at Town Ballroom with The National

Your dollars put into action, building community and confidence in young immigrant children

Remember last November/December’s apparel sale to benefit Buffalo String Works? Here’s a reminder:

For those of you who purchased a T-shirt or sweatshirt, come check out the fruits of your time and money this Thursday when BSW’s kids perform the next installment in their series, The Bridge. Hear from their team below, and learn more about them anytime at their website.

Buffalo String works is excited to announce the next installment of our cross-cultural, interdisciplinary arts series The Bridge. To further our mission of uniting communities in Buffalo, A Celebration of Music, Dance, and Photography, will take place at Lafayette International High School on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 6pm.

This concert is specifically designed to highlight the diversity of art found in the communities we serve, including Karen Society of Buffalo Dancers, Somali Bantu Dancers, Traditional Arabic Musicians, and Burmese Photographer Law Eh So. As with all performances of The Bridge, admission is free and a social hour with light refreshments will follow.

About The Bridge:

In an effort to extend a welcoming hand towards Buffalo, NY’s diverse west side community – largely made up of newly-arrived refugees and immigrants – Buffalo String Works is launching a concert series, The Bridge.

Each performance presented by The Bridge will honor Buffalo’s refugee and immigrant population through its programming with the intention of bridging gaps within the refugee community and between the community and Buffalo itself.

The Bridge will showcase high-level, professional performances from across the artistic disciplines, including music, dance, and visual art. All performances are free, open to the public, and will take place at various venues on Buffalo’s west side.

Buffalo String Works strives to foster vibrant, inclusive communities through the transformative power of music. BSW is a creative, grassroots program serving refugee students in Buffalo, New York, inspired by the international El Sistema model, which cultivates students to be agents of social change. Founded and led by local musicians, Buffalo String Works (BSW) is a nonprofit organization providing high-quality music instruction on violin, viola, cello, and bass, with students hailing from Afghanistan, Burma, Thailand, Somalia, and Sudan.

Recognizing the significance of music as a universal language, we offer a creative outlet for children and their families who are searching for a sense of belonging in a new community.