Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart’s Music Department is a performance-based program that offers a diversity of programming and provides many opportunities for individual growth within a collaborative setting. We strive to ensure that every student feels welcomed and feels safe to be themselves, take risks, and challenge themselves as they strive for excellence.
Our Music ensembles include our SHA Chamber Singers, Chorale, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Advanced and Introduction to Musical Theatre, as well as Intro to Dance and Dance Ensemble. We also offer smaller group and individual lessons for Piano, Voice, Guitar, all band and stringed instruments, and songwriting.
Highlights:
- Student-centered learning is at the heart of all SHA music classes. We strive to create a welcoming environment while delivering performance-based instruction grounded in IB and MYP principles and Franciscan values.
- Repertoire is carefully selected to connect with themes throughout the year, helping students explore not only the music itself, but also its history, social impact, theory, inspiration, creativity, and message.
- Our Ensemble classes (Choirs, Winds, Strings, Dance, and Musical Theatre) present their repertoire at our Winter and Spring Showcase Concerts.
- Many students participate annually in All-County Festivals and NYSSMA Solo Festivals.
- SHA students are regularly selected for All-County and NYSSMA Area All-State Ensembles.
- SHA students are invited each year to perform with the Buffalo State University Honor Band.
- The SHA Chamber Singers, Wind Ensemble, and String Ensemble have a long-standing tradition of excellence at NYSSMA Major Organization Festivals.
- All five SHA ensembles have earned top-two finishes at the Darien Lake Music Festival in recent years.
- The SHA Chamber Singers and String Ensemble have been featured performers at Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Spotlight Concerts at Kleinhans Music Hall.
- Students regularly perform throughout Western New York, sharing their love of music through community outreach events at local hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and community celebrations. In 2024, the SHA Chamber Singers were featured at the Christmas House lighting ceremony for Grace Guest House.
- SHA theatre students attend the annual NYSTEA Theatre Conference, where they participate in workshops focused on acting, singing, dancing, and technical theatre.
- The addition of Ms. Lisa Ludwig to our artistic team has elevated the fall musical experience for both cast and crew, while expanding opportunities to perform in professional venues such as Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center and Shea’s 710 Theatre.
- Recent musical productions include Mamma Mia!, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and Nunsense.
- The Spring Play provides opportunities for students of all experience levels to develop confidence, leadership, responsibility, and artistry through performance and production roles. Upperclassmen may also serve as student directors.
- The cast and crew of Nunsense received multiple nominations at the 2026 Shea’s Wonder Awards.
- Extracurricular opportunities include Music Ministry, Music Council, Arts Week, and Cabaret Night.
