Chopin Singing Society of Buffalo © 2020
About Us
The Society was founded in 1899 and was incorporated in 1914. In the 1980s a 501(c)3 Cultural Foundation was established to promote its various cultural activities. Since 1899, the Chopin Singing Society has enriched the cultural scene in Western New York. Over the years the choir travelled to Poland, Brazil, Italy, Canada and throughout the United States as Buffalo Ambassadors, collaborated for many years with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in summer concerts and in annual concerts at Kleinhans, sponsored an International Chopin Young Pianists’ Competition for 20 years awarding talented artists who went on to successful musical careers, appeared in numerous radio and television programs presenting Polish music and culture, including our most recent colaboration with WBBZ-TV in a Christmas program, gifted the City of Buffalo with the monument to Chopin which now stands in Symphony Circle, in 1961 inaugurated the now-iconic Dyngus Day celebration which it continues to present each year with St. Stanislaus Church, housed post WWII immigrants at its Kosciuszko Street clubroooms, participated in choral competitions, winning numerous awards at the Koszalin Music Festival in 1985 and the prestigious Hlond Trophy from the Polish Singers Alliance as the top-scoring North American choir in 1989, continues to offer a free Chopin Birthday celebration, now done in collaboration with the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture at Canisius University, hosts a traditional Wigilia (Christmas Eve) dinner, and consistently provides an annual concert and appears at cultural and religious events throughout the year.
Our mailing address is 20 Brookfield Lane #4, Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Email chopinsingers716@gmail.com
What We Do
The Society was not only a source of a rich cultural life for Buffalo’s Polish-Americans but, during World War II, it offered solace and support to displaced Polish immigrants. The upper floor of its clubrooms temporarily housed immigrant families. The Society’s home became the center, as well, of the Polonia Society, an organization of newly arrived immigrants. The Society helped to assuage their longing for Polish culture. Many Polonia members entered the Chopin ranks, including Ludwig Distel, soloist of the Society for some forty years. He and long-time soloist Theresa Dybas charmed audiences with their solo and duet work.
The Society chose as its patron and namesake, Frederick Chopin, the poet of the piano who was considered a genius of unprecedented stature. His music continues to be performed on concert stages all over the world to this day. Of special note to our Society is that his music has great nationalistic themes which are a perfect fit for the mission of the Society, “To promulgate the best in Polish music and song.”
The Chopin Singing Society
