BPO Diversity Council IDEA Award

BPO Opening Doors
Friday, June 21, 5:30-7:30pm
Kleinhans Music Hall

Honoring the recipients of the BPO Diversity Council IDEA Award

Save the date for the BPO Diversity Council’s annual Opening Doors event, taking place at Kleinhans Music Hall. Awardees of the BPO Diversity Council IDEA Award will be honored in an event raising funds to promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in classical music. We hope to see you there!

Nominate an individual or an organization for the BPO Diversity Council IDEA Award

Honoring those in our community who create an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible environment in which music flourishes

The orchestral music world should reflect, and be accessible to our whole community. We seek to break down barriers for participation, especially for those who are underrepresented in the artform.

We recognize that we must all work together as a community to create an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment in which music flourishes.

To these ends, this award aims to recognize and lift up individuals and organizations in our local community who love any and all genres of orchestral music and embody the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) while promoting, supporting, and/or practicing this artform.

The opportunity for nominations for 2024 is now closed.

View a photo slideshow from the 2023 event below!

2023 Awardees

Ella E. Robinson

The BPO Diversity Council honors Ella E. Robinson for her incredible lifetime of work connecting people across communities and musical genres, and promoting music-making and music appreciation for all who come in contact with her.

Community Music School of Buffalo

The BPO Diversity Council honors the Community Music School of Buffalo (CMS) for creating access and opportunities for music learning regardless of age, socio-economic status or geographic location with a special focus on breaking down real or perceived barriers for our underserved community members.