FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MICHAEL BUTTERMAN EXTENDS CONTRACT AS MUSIC DIRECTOR
OF SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Shreveport, LA, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 - The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors has announced that Michael Butterman has extended his contract as music director with the SSO for an additional four years, a commitment that takes him through the 2017-18 season.
"Michael brings a fresh programming approach to the guest artist and repertoire selections that has not only engaged new audiences, but has enlivened the concert experience for the longest standing patrons," said Lois Robinson, executive director of the SSO. "His meticulous preparation, lively commentary, and insightful interpretations have consistently brought out the best in the musicians and brought the audience to its feet. He is our star, and we are delighted that he will continue this work with the SSO for years to come."
Butterman's leadership and dedication to the Shreveport Symphony's mission played a significant role in the resolution of the labor dispute during the 2008-09 season. Today, the symphony enjoys well-attended concerts with programs that reflect the interests of the community while at the same time introduce fresh repertoire to broaden audience experience. Season offerings include a mix of masterworks, world premieres, pops, and special features, including creative collaborations with Shreveport's Academy Award winning Moonbot Studios. Other local collaborations with the symphony have included the Meadows Art Museum, Centenary College, Sci-Port Discovery Museum, The Robinson Film Center, Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and multiple dance companies, theater companies, and choirs. Butterman also helped initiate The Noel Foundation Chamber Music Series, now in the third season.
"Michael has become a celebrity in our community," said Elizabeth (Libby) Siskon, president of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. "On top of his musical excellence, he brings such warmth and life to the organization, and he is extremely well regarded and well-loved throughout the Shreveport area."
Butterman has been a driving force behind building a robust education and outreach program, which reaches several thousand elementary school students throughout the Shreveport and Bossier school districts. The annual Discovery Concerts, designed to engage young audience members, often provide the first exposure many students have to hearing live symphonic music.
"I am extremely proud of the work we've accomplished together during my years with the Shreveport Symphony," said Butterman, who became the symphony's music director in 2005. "We've solidified our organizational footing, and we continue to make artistic strides, build audience, and make a positive impact throughout our community. I look forward to continuing our progress and development in the coming seasons."
In addition to extending his contract with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Butterman recently extended his contract as music director with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra for an additional five years. He is the resident conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the principal conductor for education and community engagement for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the first position of its kind in the United States. New to his portfolio is the music director position of the Pennsylvania Philharmonic, which is celebrating its inaugural season in 2014-15.
For more information about the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and its 2014-15 season, visit www.shreveportsymphony.com.
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Since its founding in 1948, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has become Louisiana's oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of the most respected regional orchestras in the United States. In August 2005, Maestro Michael Butterman was appointed the fourth Music Director in the orchestra's 65-year history. For more information, visit www.shreveportsymphony.com.
