This concerts features our Young Artist Competition Winners, Hannah Che, pianist and Andrew Percy, violinist. This performance will include Academic Festival Overture by Brahms, The Muppet Medley arranged by Bruce Chase, and John Williams’ Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, A Hollywood Salute by Wendel and Danzon No. 2 by Marquez.

“Beginnings” concert guest conductor is Thomas Hong.

Reserved seat tickets at Symphony Office phone 724-283-1402.
Presale: adults $15, students $5.
At the door: adults $20, students $5.

More information on tickets and seating.
Details on the 2011-2012 season and upcoming performances.

The competition was open to any high school age musician within a 25-mile radius of Butler or any high school age musician in a PMEA District 5 school. Peggy McGuirk, Chairperson of the competition committee, said “the judges had a difficult time picking only one winner because all of the musicians who competed were extremely talented.”

Hannah Che, who is home-schooled, has been playing the piano for ten years. She performed in pre-concert recitals at Heinz Hall and was a Steinway Young Artist for 2010 and 2011. She won first prize in the 13-15 age category at the Duquesne Young Artist Competition, then performed in the Winner’s Festival. Ms. Che was also the winner of the 2012 Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist Auditions. She is currently studying with Dr. Marina Lupinacci. Her parents are David and Sarah Che. Ms. Che will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto #1.

Andrew Percy, a senior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, has been studying violin for ten years. He has been a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, and this past year, served as Co-Concertmaster. He has also been a winner of Young Artist Competitions with the Pittsburgh Concert Society, the McKeesport Symphony and the Pittsburgh Philharmonic. He currently is studying classical violin with Cyrus Forough and studies jazz violin with Jim Petroff. He also is a self-taught jazz pianist and is currently teaching himself mandolin. In addition to classical, he plays jazz, rock, and bluegrass. In the fall, Andrew will be attending Berklee College of Music on a full-tuition scholarship majoring in performance, electronic production and design. Andrew is the son of Lisa and Roger Percy. He will perform Saint-Sans’ Concerto #3 for Violin and Orchestra.

Tickets for this concert are available at the Butler County Symphony office, 259 S. Main St., Butler.  Prices are $15 adult pre-sale, and $5 for students. Adult prices at the door are $20. For more information, call 724-283-1402.

Featuring: Michael Forest, tenor
Mr. Forest is in his 17th season with The Metropolitan Opera where he has sung over 250 performances in 19 roles.

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Donation: $30
Place: 114 Aubrey Drive, Butler, PA 16001

Pre-Sale Only
Tickets available at the Butler County Symphony Association Office:
259 South Main Street
Butler, PA 16001

Phone: 724-283-1402

Email: info@butlersymphony.org

Meet The Artist Flyer

Sunday, January 22, 2012, Swope Hall on the campus of Slippery Rock University

The competition is open to any high school age musician within a 25-mile radius of Butler, or any high school age musician in a PMEA District 5 school.

One student will be chosen to perform as a soloist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

• YAC 2012 poster
• YAC 2012 high school application
• Previous Young Artist Winners

For information, please contact the Butler County Symphony Association at 724-283-1402 or email butlersymphony@zoominternet.net.

The Butler County Symphony Association announces its annual Silent Night Basket Auction fundraiser. Over 40 baskets, each valued at a minimum of $100, will be available for viewing and ticket purchase:

• at the Cookie Reception of the Holiday Tour of Homes in the First U.M. Church Ministry Center, 234 E. North Street, Butler, from 11:00 – 4:00 on Saturday, November 19,
• at the Butler Symphony office, 259 S. Main Street, Butler, from November 28 until Friday, December 2. Symphony office hours are 9 am – 2 pm,
• and at the Butler Intermediate High School on Saturday, December 3 at the Holiday Concert, “A Night of Joy” featuring Slippery Rock University Concert Choir.

The winning tickets will be drawn and baskets awarded during intermission.

Ticket prices are 5 for $5; 15 for $10; and 35 for $20.

For more information on the baskets and tickets for the Holiday Concert, please contact the Symphony office at 724-283-1402, or visit our website at www.butlersymphony.org.

The Butler County Symphony Associations 22nd Annual Holiday Tour of Homes will be Saturday, November 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a self-guided tour. The Butler area homes included on this year’s tour are:

• Paula & Doug Arnold, 154 Reiber Rd., Renfrew, PA., 16053
• Doug & “Mickey” Bell, 133 Leeward Dr., Butler, PA., 16001
• Carol Foster (Lasky House), 215 W. New Castle St., Butler, PA., 16001
• John & Loriann Putzier, 223 Oakview Dr., Prospect, PA. 16052
• Christina & Michael Savannah, 107 Fairlane Dr., Butler, PA., 16001
• St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, PA., 16001
  (Tours at the Church will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

A cookie reception will be held at the First United Methodist Church Ministry Center (formerly the K of C Hall), 234 E. North St., Butler, PA 16001, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A luncheon benefiting the activities of the Ministry Center will be available at the same location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost for the luncheon is $5.00. The Holiday Baskets will be on display at the reception.

The House Tour is a major fund-raising event for the Symphony Association.
Tickets are $15 pre-sale and $20 on the day of the tour. They will be
available November 1st at the following locations:

Symphony Office, 259 S. Main St., Butler, PA., 16001
May’s Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St., Butler, PA., 16001
Meridian Gift Shop, 298 Meridian Rd., Butler, PA., 16001
Truly Yours at the Clearview Mall, Butler, PA., 16001
Flynn’s Tire Center, 236 N. Main St., Butler, PA., 16001

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.

Each week a musician or group of musicians will perform free half-hour concerts in the Symphony office building, 259 S. Main Street, Butler, 16001, from 12:15 until 12:45. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lunch or purchase one on site courtesy Cafe Main. Cookies and cold drinks are free.

• June 8: Hill Youth Chorale
• June 15: Titans of the Tenor – Jim Schaffner and Artie Black, tenor saxophones
• June 22: Butler Symphony Percussion All-Stars
• June 29: Tom Wotus and Mary Andreassi – piano and vocals
• July 6: Karma Acoustic – contemporary acoustic
• July 13: Sharp Edge Barbershop Quartet
• July 20: NKC Trio – flute, violin, cello
• July 27: Jerry Johnston and the Soul Patrol
• August 3: Simcha String Quartet
• August 10: Jim Cunningham and Friends – jazz
• August 17: Dorko Mahoney Band – traditional folk

Concerts_To_Munch_By_2011 flyer

New officers who will serve the Butler County Symphony Association for the 2011-2012 season were elected at the annual Association meeting on May 3^rd. They are: President, Ron McKissick; Vice-president, Patti Donaldson; Secretary, Stephanie Maharg; and Treasurer; Bryan Stevenson.

The 63rd season of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra will open on Oct. 8^th at the Butler Intermediate High School. The season’s concert schedule will be announced shortly. Anyone wishing to obtain detailed information may call the Symphony office, 259 S. Main Street, Butler, PA 16001, telephone 724-283-1402. Or you may visit the website at www.butlersymphony.org.