“The Pennsylvania Philharmonic kicks off its second season by looking to spread the gift of music to a younger audience,” writes Jennifer Lynn on Thursday (10/29) at NewsWorks (Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware). “ ‘What we are about is engaging,’ conductor Michael Butterman said. ‘We want … to be the catalyst—that kind of a spark—that will carry a student from being a member of an audience to being someone who wants to engage with music as a creator.’ Butterman, who is set to debut with the Philharmonic on Saturday, will lead the in-school performances in the Red Lion, Boyertown, Bethlehem, Pottstown, and Pottsgrove school districts. ‘When I go into these schools, I will ask, “Who here is hearing or seeing a live orchestra for the first time?” And, in many places, it’s 90 percent of the hands…. When we go there, we really feel a sense of appreciation that this is something special for these school districts, and that it is an exciting event for them.’ ” Public concerts are scheduled for Phoenixville, York, Bethlehem, and West Chester, Pennsylvania. To read Symphony magazine’s Spring 2015 article about startup orchestras including the Pennsylvania Philharmonic, click here.
Posted October 30, 2015
