Moon Doh

Moon Doh will make his maiden voyage as the full-time conductor of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Oct. 4, by way of a performance that aims to take the audience on a voyage of its own.

The first show of the orchestra’s season is titled “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” and is a “compelling symphonic work that narrates the immigrant experience,” which will be brought to life through music, as well as seven actors from Hobnob Theatre Company, who will introduce each song, according to an orchestra news release.

The work itself was composed in 2001 and 2002 by Peter Boyle, whom Doh said created a high-energy performance piece that is emotionally affecting but filled with fun moments. Doh added that the actors will read archived documents from Ellis Island word-for-word to punctuate each piece.

“I got goose bumps hearing the actors run their lines,” Doh said. “The work is a 50-minute piece, there’s no stops. There is a large orchestral interlude and then an actor comes up and does his or her line.”

The songs chosen for the concert also complement the story the piece tells, and Doh said they also set the mood based on each actor’s line. The concert culminates in a big finish that involves the musicians and the actors, according to Doh.

“For the end, all seven actors will come on stage and say one line each, which I think is one the most powerful moments of the show,” he said.

Doh said this entire season of the orchestra is commemorating the 250th birthday of the U.S. — he chose the theme and music for each show based on the celebration. With the November concert being a showcase of jazz, Doh said he thinks audiences will be pleasantly surprised by each of the season’s shows.

“The entirety of America is celebrating its 250th anniversary, and the orchestral world is doing the same,” Doh said. “I really want this season to be a celebration of the entire community.”

“Ellis Island” begins at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Intermediate High School’s auditorium, 551 Fairground Hill Road in Butler Township. There will be a pre-concert lecture by Butler historian and storyteller Bill May, who will present a 30-minute slideshow and talk, “Across the Ocean to Butler County.”

For tickets and more information, visit butlersymphony.org.