Butler County Symphony Announces Guest Conductors for 2011-2012 Season Butler, PA, August 3, 2011
Following an intense review process, the Butler County Symphony Association (BCSA) is proud to announce that the Board of Directors, at last night’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting, approved the three Finalists for their Music Director/Conductor position. The three conductors are Thomas Hong, Matthew Kraemer, and Bruce Lauffer. As a part of the Symphony’s year long Music Director/Conductor Search, all three gentlemen will serve as Guest Conductor’s during the 2011-2012 Season. The Symphony Board began their search for a new Music Director/Conductor at the end of May and received applications from conductors representing 20 states, as well as Canada, Chile, Malaysia, and Spain.
Maestro Thomas Hong, currently Assistant Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony, will be conducting the inaugural concert of the new season, “A Night of Beethoven”, on Saturday, October 8, 2011. He will also be the Guest Conductor for the March 10, 2012 Concert, “A Night of Beginning”, which will feature the symphony’s 2012 Young Artist Competition Winner. Prior to his arrival in Pittsburgh, Hong served as Associate Conductor of the Seattle (WA) and Fort Worth (TX) Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre National de France.
Conducting the November 5, 2011 concert, “A Night of Favorites” and the February 11, 2012 concert, “A Night of Song”, will be Maestro Bruce Lauffer. The November concert will feature Alvin Zhu, piano, with the February concert featuring Michael Forest, tenor. Mr. Lauffer is currently Music Director and Conductor of the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra as well as the Latshaw Pops Orchestra. Previously, Lauffer served as Dean of Arts, Director of Music, and Orchestra Director at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, PA from 2006-2009.
Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Maestro Matthew Kraemer will lead the orchestra in “A Night of Joy”, on December 3, 2011, with the Slippery Rock University Choir. He will also conduct the symphony’s final concert of the 2011-2012 Season, “A Night of Remembrances” on April 14, 2012, featuring soloist Aaron Patterson, alto saxophone. Kraemer is currently the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic and served previously with both the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Akron (OH) Symphony.
The Butler County Symphony invites you to join us for this, our 63rd Season, one sure to be filled with memorable performances and exciting professional artists! All performances begin at 7:30 PM and are held at the Butler Intermediate High School. Please contact the Symphony Office (724.283.1402) for season and individual concert tickets.
