BUTLER TWP — Anyone who thinks that symphony orchestra concerts are only for old, stuffy people obviously didn't attend the Butler County Symphony Orchestra's Disney in Concert Around the World show Saturday night at the Butler Intermediate High School.

Children of all ages filled the auditorium with giggles, gasps, occasional tears and pure joy as the orchestra conquered the many styles and cultures represented in more than 80 years of Disney movies. Enhanced by montages of the various films displayed on screens at each side of the stage, the evening was delightful.

“Disney Classics Overture,” a medley of beloved tunes arranged by Bruce Healey, launched the evening as maestro Matthew Kraemer lead the orchestra in the daunting task of leaping through a wide assortment of musical styles. Starting with “Snow White” and ending with the ultimate auditory earwig, “It's a Small World,” the Butler Orchestra bounced through the medley with agility.

Next up was Disney's “The Little Mermaid Orchestra Suite” by Alan Menken. The Jamaican rhythms made it a temptation to get up and dance. Sparkling harp glissandos and sinuous themes created beautiful watery accompaniment to the screen images.

Menken's gifts were displayed in a very different tonality for his music for Disney's “Pocahontas Orchestral Suite.” It also showed the flexibility of the orchestra. Evoking primal rhythms infused with lovely melodies the work commenced with drums and flutes and evolved into rich themes carried by the entire orchestra.

Disney's “Mary Poppins: A Symphonic Fantasy” was written by brothers Richard and Robert Sherman. Again, the symphony capably switched gears throughout the familiar work. While it sounded whimsical, it was supercalifragilisticexpialidociously complicated in style and syncopation.

Kraemer and the musicians aced Alan Menken's dynamic changes in his score to Disney's “Beauty and the Beast Orchestral Suite.” They seamlessly moved from regal to yearning to effervescent to threatening modalities. The finale, “Tale as Old as Time,” might have become maudlin in less skilled hands, but remained fresh as played by the Butler symphony.

The “Frozen Suite,” was written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Christophe Beck and voiced by Idina Menzel, is a worldwide hit. Opening with anvil clangs from the percussion section, the entire orchestra got into the act, stomping their feet in time to the music while simultaneously playing their instruments. The delight of childhood came through in “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” as did the angst of “Let It Go.”

Disney's “Aladdin Orchestral Suite” was another triumph by Alan Menken. The minor tones and exotic lines were Middle Eastern in sound but Western in style. “You Never Had a Friend Like Me” was a rollicking throwback to 1930s musicals. Appropriately, the song “Whole New World” was unabashedly romantic.

Composer Jerry Goldsmith was represented by a Suite from Disney's “Mulan.” He also managed a successful blend of Far Eastern harmonics with Western influences. At times delicate, and other times martial, the musicians conquered the work.

“Pirates of the Caribbean Suite” by Klaus Badelt had all the bravado of Erich Korngold's “Captain Blood” music. It was brash and bold with a few jazz riffs thrown in. Kraemer and the orchestra certainly had their swashes buckled.

Completing the musical circle of the world was Disney's “The Lion King Orchestral Suite.” Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer collaborated on the soundtrack, producing a memorable series of songs. It was a fitting multinational end to a global tour of the music of Disney Studios.