BUTLER TWP — On Saturday evening the Butler County Symphony Orchestra presented its "Spotlight on a Rising Star" concert featuring violinist Andrew Ho and directed by Elisabeth Heath-Charles.

The concert opened with the dramatic Russian Easter Overture by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The stirring opening theme was played by two flutes in their lower register, two clarinets, two oboes, and two bassoons in their higher register.

The fine intonation of the ensemble had the effect of sounding like one instrument. A motif of one ninth recurs through the piece and adds to the drama: one note followed by one a ninth lower.

The featured soloist for the concert was Andrew Ho, 16, the winner of the Young Artist Competition this season. He performed "Introduction" and "Rondo Capriccioso" by Camille Saint Saens.

The young musician said he began studying the work last summer in preparation for the audition. The double-stops in the work took "a lot of slow practice."

An unassuming young man, he does not know what career he will pursue, but he will continue to play his violin.

In attendance at the concert were his mother and father, Shiow-Jian and Hung-Chi Ho and Sarah Lavelle, the director of the North Allegheny High School orchestra of which Andrew is a member.

After intermission, the orchestra played "Enigma Variations" by the English composer Edward Elgar. The work is a touching tribute to his wife and many friends.

His friends are identified through orchestral versions of their mannerisms or by the prominence of the instruments they played. The familiar Nimrod variation portrays the nobility of Elgar's esteemed friend Arthur Jaeger in a slow, lush movement.

The last piece of music of the evening was the mystery selection which turned out to be "Dance of the Hours" by Ponchielli. It is more recognizable to a television-age audience as a commercial for flea-repellent and is sung by a dog.

Ida Findley sponsored the brass section for this concert.

The concert was at the Butler High School auditorium.