Fennell featured at finale
The Butler County Symphony will present a premiere work by Drew Fennell for the final concert of the 60th anniversary season on Saturday.
As part of the finale concert with the theme "Facet-Natin' Gems," Fennell, who is the symphony's Composer of the Year, will unveil his original piece "Apollo 11," which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing.
The piece, broken down into segments, starts with a musical statement depicting President Kennedy's words urging all Americans to support the quest of setting foot on the moon. The music then represents the countdown and violent launch of the Saturn V rocket before depicting the peaceful weightlessness of space.
The composition concludes with the triumph of astronaut Neil Armstrong climbing down the ladder of the Lunar Module to the moon's surface, ending with a triumphant celebration.
The concert, which will start at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Intermediate High School, will also feature concert pianist Leon Bates.
Bates, a Philadelphia native who has appeared in some of the most prestigious concert halls in North America and Europe, is known for classical and jazz performances. For the symphony concert, he will play works by French Impressionist composer Joseph-Maurice Ravel and jazz great Duke Ellington.
Tickets sold in advance for the show are $15 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the symphony association's office, 259 S. Main St. Adult tickets at the door will cost $18.For more information, call 724-283-1402 or visit the Web site, www.butlersymphony.org.A raffle drawing for a diamond bracelet valued at $3,500 to close out the symphony's "Diamond Jubilee" season also will be held. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the symphony office or at the Intermediate High School before the concert.
