WNED Classical is the area’s 24-hour classical music service. The station harbors an ongoing broadcast and production relationship with the Grammy award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Tune in for symphonies, operas and concerts by philharmonic orchestras around the world.

WNED Classical broadcast on 94.5 WNED in Buffalo and on 89.7 WNJA in Jamestown and can be streamed on this website and through apps.

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JoAnn's Classical Corner

Weekdays at 8:30am
Listen to WNED Classical every weekday morning at 8:30, as the Buffalo Philharmonic’s Music Director and Conductor JoAnn Falletta joins Mark Swarts in the WNED Morning program for “JoAnn’s Classical Corner!”

Every day, JoAnn will spend a couple of minutes with Mark talking about everything from this season’s highlights at the Buffalo Philharmonic to JoAnn’s insights on all things musical.

Named in honor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Music Director, the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition was launched in 2004 by WNED Classical, WNED PBS and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the world’s first concerto competition for classical guitarists with accompaniment by a full symphony orchestra. The Falletta Competition was established to help identify and encourage talented young classical guitarists and help them on their musical journeys.

Every two years, it brings international guitarists to Buffalo, New York for one week to perform publicly in competition for cash prizes, a recording contract, national and international broadcast exposure, and a return engagement with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. It is the opportunity of a lifetime for young musicians who have dedicated themselves to their art and who are serious about pursuing careers not only as international performing and recording artists, but also as concert soloists.

In addition to bringing prominent recognition to highly-skilled young classical guitarists, Buffalo Toronto Public Media and the BPO seek to promote music appreciation and enhance the visibility of the cultural arts in Western New York.

The 2020 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition scheduled for June 3-6 has been postponed, due to the nearly impossible logistics of mounting an international competition in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. The BPO will announce a rescheduled date at a later time.

Liona Boyd Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from JoAnn Falletta Guitar Competition

Day Two Semi-finalist:

• Jack Cimo, a seasoned chamber musician and soloist who has been active in competitions as both an organizer and competitor, representing the United States.
• Junhong Kuang, a 17 year old who has recorded for Naxos and won top prizes in the ARD Music Competition, representing China.
• Igor Klokov, a graduate student at Mainz Hochschule fur Musik/Koblenz and winner of many guitar competitions in Europe, representing Russia.
• Chinnawat Themkumwun, a 37-time prizewinner in Asia and Europe, representing Thailand.

Day One Semi-finalists:

• Tengyue “TY” Zhang, the first-prize winner of the 2017 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artists Competition, representing China.
• Bokyung Byun, a multi-competition winner and doctoral candidate at University of Southern California who has been performing publicly since age 11, representing South Korea.
• Congyi Zhang, a graduate student at Mannes School of Music and frequent performer throughout Canada and the United States, representing China.
• Bradly Pupa, a faculty member at California Conservatory of Music and a graduate student at the San Francisco Conservatory, representing the United States.

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