Both Boulder Phil and conductor Michael Butterman are making news

By Peter Alexander

It’s kind of like a dating site, but with much better music.

Missy Mazzoli. Photo by Stephen S. Taylor

The Boulder Philharmonic announced this week that they have been paired with composer Missy Mazzoli for a “Music Alive: New Partnerships” grant from the League of American Orchestras and New Music USA.

In a news release dated Oct. 22, the orchestra explained that the grant of $7,500 is for a one-week residency sometime during 2014 to 2016. The Boulder Philharmonic was one of 12 organizations in their category—orchestras with operating budgets of $7 million or less—to receive a grant and be paired with a composer through this program.

“Music Alive: New Partnerships” matches composers and orchestras who have not previously worked together. Each residency will take place some time during 2014 to 2016, and will culminate in the performance of an orchestral work from the composer’s catalog.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome a composer of Missy’s caliber and creativity for a residency in our city,” Kevin Shuck, executive director of the Boulder Philharmonic, said.

Mazzoli commented, “I am so thrilled to be working with the Boulder Phil. There are so many possibilities and I have already enjoyed our conversations and sharing of ideas.  This will be my first time in Colorado and I’m very happy that it’s under these circumstances.”

You may read the entire news release here.

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Michael Butterman

In the meantime, Boulder Phil Music Director Michael Butterman has gotten attention in Pennsylvania for his role in getting the newly founded Pennsylvania Philharmonic off the ground.

Operating with an educational mandate, the new orchestra will perform in schools and communities that can‘t support their own professional orchestra. Hired as the music director, Butterman noted how quickly the orchestra got from the planning stage, about 10 months ago, to its first performance, which is taking place Saturday (Oct. 25) in Pottstown, Penn.

In an article by Philadelphia Inquirer classical music critic David Patrick Stearns, Butterman was further quoted as saying “Building an orchestra from the ground up with community engagement being the driving force . . . is very appealing, but also a bit of a blank slate. We have to experiment and try things out.”

Simone Dinnerstein. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco.

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein, who has appeared with Butterman and the Boulder Phil, will be the soloist for the first concert, playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. “I have such admiration for someone with the chutzpah to start an orchestra,” she said.

The rest of the program will include Dinnerstein playing Ravel’s Concerto in G, the Four Dances from Rodeo by Aaron Copland and the Fanfare Ritmico by Jennifer Higdon. That program, titled “Fascinatin’ Rhythms,” will be performed a total of four times over the next two weeks.

You may read Stearns’ article here.