This year’s Young Artist Competition sponsored by the Butler County Symphony Association at Swope Hall on the campus of Slippery Rock University on January 22, resulted in two winners: 16-year old pianist Hannah Che of Beaver and 17-year old violinist Andrew Percy of Lyndora. These two musicians will perform with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra on March 10, 2012, “A Night of Beginnings.”

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.

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.

Butler County Symphony Association Names Officers for 63rd Season

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.