Winning artist, North Star Kids will be featured
The Butler County Symphony Orchestra will present its Family Pops Concert, "Modern America," at 7:30 p.m. March 13 in the auditorium at Butler Intermediate High School, 551 Fairground Hill Road.
The featured soloist for this program will be pianist Michael King-Hon Tsang, winner of the 31st Annual Young Artist Competition of the Symphony Association.
Tsang, junior at North Allegheny High School, has won numerous competitions in this area and several states. He will play the first movement of Saint Saens' "Second Concerto in g minor, Op. 22."
Also recognized at this concert will be those students from Butler County in grades four through six who have been designated Young Musicians of Note by their music teachers for their musical ability and interest.
And music from a variety of contemporary Broadway shows will be presented by the North Star Kids from Pittsburgh. The ensemble has performed on stage with Celine Dion, on the first American Idol, with Kelly Clarkson, Barry Manilow, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and John Lithgow.
Following this Butler symphony season's theme of "The Dream of America," the musical selections continue to explore the dreams, talents and cultural heritage of composers, musicians and others who migrated to America.The March 13 concert will begin with a selection of tunes that would have been familiar to Butler County ancestors.For the older generation, there is music by Duke Ellington, "Grand Slam Jam," that showcases the orchestra's classical musicians in jazz solos. For the in-between generation, there are selections from Lee Johnson's "Dead Symphony," an orchestral tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead.The orchestra is under the direction of Elisabeth Heath Charles.Seats at $15 for adults and $5 for students are reserved and are available at the Symphony Association office, 259 S. Main St. At the door, adult tickets will be $18.For more information, call 724-283-1402 or visit the Web site, www.butlersymphony.org.
