Many of us hope to turn over a new leaf with the new year’s arrival, and getting your finances in order is a resolution that’s worth sticking with. The good news is that the team at The Establishment by MassMutual New York State has a variety of free classes and other supports to help you see this one through. “The most common resolution that people have is to get their financial situation on the right track,” said Derek Szczupakowski, financial services professional for MassMutual New York State. “That can mean anything from paying off debt, to saving for retirement or…
Author: Sarah Maurer
With the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra kicking off its annual holiday season, there are plenty of festive performances on the schedule this month. Many of us have a favorite holiday tune or tradition we look forward to each year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epl5HAvAfRw We decided it was time to meet some of the people behind the music at the BPO and learn more about their favorite holiday traditions. Amelie Fradette, Cello What is your favorite part of performing with the BPO during the holiday season? Sharing the holiday spirit with our audience. It’s a great feeling from the stage to see everyone in the…
This weekend, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will present Pictures at an Exhibition. The show will feature three pieces, Joan Tower’s “Tambor,” Mussorgsky and Ravel’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” and Mike Mills’ “Concerto for Rock Band, Violin, and String Orchestra.” The performance’s namesake piece, “Pictures at an Exhibition,” originates with a beautifully sad story. Mussorgsky had suffered the loss of his dear friend, artist Victor Hartmann. The composer channeled his sorrow into a creative endeavor, composing a solo piano piece to honor his friend – a musical exploration of ten of Hartmann’s paintings. “It begins with a famous solo that is…
You may have already read up on some of The Establishment by MassMutual New York State’s class offerings and one-on-one sessions for individuals who are looking to address a financial hurdle in their life, prepare for a long-term goal, or simply learn more about a specific component of financial health. Their classes and one-on-one sessions cover a wide range of topics, from establishing savings goals, to learning how to invest your money or purchase your first home. As a continuation of its efforts to keep financial education accessible and approachable, the Establishment also offers free private classes for groups that…
This fall, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its longstanding and ever-growing partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools – a partnership that has existed since the Orchestra was founded in 1935. The BPO has worked to expand their connections with BPS students and their families, particularly over the past decade, and is now providing 15 dedicated concerts for BPS students each year. “We now serve almost 20,000 students, teachers and parents from the district each year, which is an incredible statement of support from a district with just over 31,000 students,” said Robin Parkinson, director of education and community engagement.…
Whether you need a little guidance to map out a savings plan, or some major financial counseling, The Establishment by MassMutual offers a great place to start. In addition to their free classes on a variety of financial topics at The Establishment, MassMutual offers the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with one of their educators for a free “financial checkup.” “The financial check-up is designed to be an open meeting that’s directed by the class attendee, really along the lines of what’s important to them,” said Ray Pavicich, CFP®, Director of Financial Planning at MassMutual New York State.” Often these…
This Friday evening, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will host its annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Kleinhans Music Hall in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Council. This free event will feature a variety of Latin inspired pieces, as well as salsa dance performers to accompany the music. “The inspiration for this concert really came from the fact that Kleinhans Music Hall, the BPO’s home venue, is centered within a rich Hispanic neighborhood,” said Patrick O’Herron, BPO Director of Marketing. “We wanted to present something that would speak to and welcome in our neighbors.” The concert underscores the BPO’s longstanding tradition of…
Earlier this month, I attended The Establishment’s “Wine and Investing 101” course, one of their most popular free introductory finance seminars which they describe as a “best of both worlds crash course in investing.” The class paired two instructors, Ryan and Dan, to share their insight on two important pieces of adulting – knowing your finances and knowing your wines. Ryan is a financial services professional who sees himself as an intermediary between people and the finance world, and Dan is a financial professional who is also a passionate wine enthusiast. Dan and Ryan tag team the approximately 2 hour…
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will present composer Carl Orff’s epic Carmina Burana this weekend, with the full musical power of the orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. As one of the more popular classical works, this piece is one that will be familiar to and enjoyed by a wide audience. “Everyone knows the epic Carmina Burana – it’s a mainstay of films, television, video games and advertisements for just about everything,” said Kate Jenkins, BPO Communications Coordinator. The performance will also feature highly-regarded Finnish composer and violinist Jaakko Kuusisto’s new trumpet concerto, performed by BPO’s principal trumpet, Alex Jokipii. Kuusisto…
This weekend, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will present “Journey to the New World” – a multimedia celebration of the immigrant experience and how it defines our nation’s history and our culture. The performance, which takes place on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, will feature a collaboration between the BPO and actors from Road Less Traveled Productions. The concert will pair Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” with Peter Boyer’s recent project, “Ellis Island.” Dvorak – an immigrant himself – wrote Symphony No. 9 after leaving his native land of Bohemia in 1892 to immigrate to…