Symphony trying to keep music playing
The stage may be dark and the seats empty, but the Butler County Symphony Orchestra is still making music.
It's online instead of in a concert hall, but the symphony's “Keep the Musicians Playing” series gives viewers new music and performances weekly, said David Cosgrove, the symphony's executive director.
“It's an online concert series that started as an initiative to keep musicians playing in Butler County,” he said. “Mostly, it's symphony members, but musicians across the country have donated videos.”
Since starting in May, “Keep the Musicians Playing” posts one video of a musician or musicians playing a piece every week, usually on Monday or Tuesday.
The length depends on the musician. Most performances range from three to six minutes and are performed in the musician's home.
The video appears on the symphony's YouTube page, Facebook page and website.
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“When we started out, we were not exactly sure how many videos we would get,” said Cosgrove, adding how the symphony ended up with enough videos to keep the series running through the end of summer.
The videos have proven popular, according to Cosgrove. He noted how a submission by Tanya Satteson, concertmistress with the symphony, recorded 2,000 views on the symphony's Facebook page and counting.
“I've been playing a series of movements from Bach's unaccompanied violin pieces,” said Satteson, a violinist who lives in Cranberry Township.
Satteson said she's put together a pretty bare-bones production.
“It's in my house with my iPhone. I just sit it up and make sure my kids are somewhere else,” she said.
She said she had to practice before recording her violin playing because the pieces are pretty involved, but the actual recording is fairly easy.
Cosgrove said he can't take credit for the entire idea. Famed cello player Yo-Yo Ma has performed his “Songs of Comfort” series, and other orchestras have been performing via videos.
Satteson said of the videos the musicians are making, “This is as close as you can get to a live performance.”
“Keep the Musicians Playing” has a second purpose.
Cosgrove said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused the symphony to cancel its largest concert in the spring along with its largest fundraiser — Dance with Butler County Celebrities that was scheduled for May 3.
All the musicians' videos end with an invitation to donate to the symphony.
“We're asking they donate when they are able to the symphony, so that we can come back and do concerts in the future,” said Cosgrove. “As a nonprofit, we are always trying to raise money to address our needs. Expenses and income went down, but we still need the support.”
Cosgrove explained that 55 percent of the symphony's income comes from direct public support, compared with 30 percent derived from ticket sales.
The pandemic also forced the modification of the symphony's annual summer lunchtime concert series at noon each Friday. Concerts are being performed by musicians playing inside the symphony's offices on Main Street without an audience, and the music is piped outside through loudspeakers in Diamond Park. “We are going to keep music playing within our county, even if we can't be in a concert hall,” said Cosgrove.
To donate to the symphony, call 724-283-1402, email butlersymphony@zoominternet.net or visit www.butlersymphony.org.
