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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2026 AT

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Feb. 20 - March 15

Oct. 3-26

May 1-24

Music Director Michael Butterman

Music Director of four American orchestras and a sought-after guest conductor, Michael Butterman is acclaimed for his creative artistry and innovative programming. Foundational to his dynamic career is a deep commitment to audience development and community engagement. He is the Music Director of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, which he has led to national prominence, resulting in an invitation to open the Kennedy Center’s inaugural SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras in 2017, as well as the Shreveport Symphony, which has experienced an unprecedented era of artistic growth under his leadership. Beginning in 2022, Mr. Butterman assumed the role of Music Director of the Williamsburg Symphony and Lancaster Symphony orchestras, as well. A passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Butterman recently completed a 19-year association with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as their Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement. Concurrently he enjoyed a 15-year tenure with the Jacksonville Symphony, first as Associate, and then as Resident Conductor. He is also the founding Music Director of the Pennsylvania Philharmonic, an orchestra uniquely devoted to introducing orchestra music to young people.

As a guest conductor, Mr. Butterman has led many of the country’s preeminent ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony and Houston Symphony. Other recent appearances include performances with the Fort Worth Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Asheville Lyric Opera and Victoria Symphony (British Columbia). Summer appearances include Tanglewood, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival, and the Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia. This season, he returns for a fourth time to conduct Cuba’s renowned Havana Chamber Orchestra.

Michael Butterman’s work has been featured in more than three dozen nationwide broadcasts on public radio’s Performance Today. He can be heard on two CDs recorded for the Newport Classics label and on an album in which he conducts the Rochester Philharmonic and collaborates with actor John Lithgow. A new recording on the Reference Recordings label featuring the Boulder Philharmonic and Aldo López-Gavilán is set to be released in late 2025.

PHOTO BY MOLLY SCHLACHTER.

VIOLIN 1

Concertmaster

Becky Roser & Ron Stewart

Virginia Newton

Stephanie Bork

Boulder Phil Orchestra Roster

CELLO

Ryan Jacobsen, Chas Wetherbee Endowed

Annamaria Karacson, Assistant Concertmaster

Rinat Erlichman

Christopher Leonard

Gyöngyvér Petheö

Heidi & Jerry Lynch

Veronica Sawarynski

Marion Thurnauer & Alex Trifunac

Takanori Sugishita

Luana Rubin

Malva Tarasewicz

Pamela Walker

Yenlik Weiss

VIOLIN 2

Zachary Ragent, Principal

Leah Mohling, Assistant Principal

Hilary Castle-Green

Regan Kane

Isaac Kay

Victoria Martinez

Kina Ono

Susie Peek

Autumn Pepper

Robyn Sosa

VIOLA

Margaret Dyer Harris, Principal

Patricia Butler

Vacant, Assistant Principal

Aniel Cabán

Matthew Diekman

Nancy Clairmont & Bob Braudes

Claire Figel

Nancy McNeill

Stephanie Mientka

Allyson Stibbards

Charles Lee, Principal

Christine & Wayne Itano

Andrew Kolb, Assistant Principal

Charles Barnard

Sara Fierer

Joey Howe

Amanda Laborete

Yoriko Morita

Margot & Chris Brauchli

Erin Patterson

Eleanor Wells

BASS

David Crowe, Principal

Lin & Matthew Hawkins

Brian Knott, Assistant Principal

Lin & Matthew Hawkins

Ernie Glock

Hunter Hawkins

Isaiah Holt

John St. Cyr

FLUTE

Wonpyo Lee, Principal

Pamela Dennis & Jim Semborski

Elizabeth Sadilek

Laurie Hathorn

Olga Shilaeva, Piccolo

Paul Weber

OBOE

Sarah Bierhaus, Principal

Eleanor & Harry Poehlmann

Brittany Bonner

Grace Stringfellow

CLARINET

Kellan Toohey, Principal

Margaret & Rodolfo Perez

Michelle Orman

Vacant, Bass Clarinet

BASSOON

Francisco Delgado, Principal in Memory of Joan Ringoen

Joshua Sechan

Wendy La Touche, Contrabassoon

HORN

Michael Yopp, Principal

Ruth Irvin and the late Richard Irvin

Devon Park, Associate Principal

DeAunn Davis, Assistant & Utility

Andrew Miller

Jeffrey Rubin

Alan Davis

Daniel Skib

TRUMPET

Leslie Scarpino, Principal

Nicky Wolman & David Fulker

Noah Lambert

Vacant

TROMBONE

Bron Wright, Principal

Nancy Clairmont & Bob Braudes

Owen Homayoun

Jeremy Van Hoy, Bass Trombone

TUBA

James Andrus, Principal

TIMPANI

Douglas William Walter, Principal

Constance Holden & TK Smith

PERCUSSION

Mike Tetreault, Principal

Vacant, Assistant Principal

Nena Lorenz Wright

HARP

Kathleen Wychulis, Principal

PIANO

Vacant

In memoriam Ruth C. Kahn

PERSONNEL MANAGER

Bron Wright

Members of string sections are listed alphabetically following titled players.

* On leave this season

Interested in sponsoring a musician? Give us a call at 303-449-1343.

Thank You to Our Partners

The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra recognizes those who have made or pledged transformative and lasting gifts. These people are planting seeds for the future that will sustain the music for future generations, at the same time enhancing and enriching our current programs. Thank you!

Grace & Gordon Gamm Endowment Fund

SeiSolo

Sydney & Robert Anderson

Margot & Christopher Brauchli

Patricia Butler

Erma Mantey

Jayne & Stephen Miller

Eleanor & Harry Poehlmann

Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra Legacy Circle

Nancy Clairmont & Robert Braudes

Pamela Dennis & Jim Semborski

Jerry Gilland

Margaret & Rodolfo Perez

Becky Roser & Ron Stewart

Lynn Streeter

Nicky Wolman & David Fulker

C. Khan

Judy & Steve Knapp

Karyn Sawyer

Lynn Streeter

Nicky Wolman & David Fulker

Ruth

Boulder Phil Staﬀ and Board

Sergei Prokoﬁev

(1891-1953)

Sergei Prokoﬁev

PROKOFIEV

Michael Butterman, Music Director

Stewart Goodyear, piano

Kabin Thomas, narrator

April 25, 2026, 7:00 PM

Macky Auditorium

Lieutenant Kijé Suite Op. 60

Piano Concerto No. 3 27’ (1891-1953)

I. Andante - Allegro

II. Tema con variazioni

III. Allegro, ma non troppo

Intermission

Sergei Prokoﬁev

Suite from Romeo and Juliet 34’ (1891-1953)

Special Thanks to our Featured Sponsors:

Courtesy recording provided by Galle Studios.

Suite from Romeo and Juliet presented under license from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associated Music Publishers, copyright owners.

Program and artists subject to change. There may be professional photographers and recording crew present during our performances. All other photography or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited.

PROKOFIEV

GUEST ARTISTS

STEWART GOODYEAR, PIANO

Proclaimed “a phenomenon” by the Los Angeles Times and “one of the best pianists of his generation” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Stewart Goodyear is an accomplished concert pianist, improviser and composer. Mr. Goodyear has performed with, and has been commissioned by, many of the major orchestras and chamber music organizations around the world.

Last year, Orchid Classics released Mr. Goodyear’s recording of his suite for piano and orchestra, “Callaloo” and his piano sonata. His recent commissions include an orchestral work for the Chineke! Orchestra, his Piano Quintet for the Penderecki String Quartet, and a piano work for the Honens Piano Competition. His suite for solo violin, “Solo” was recorded by violinist Miranda Cuckson on the Urlicht Audiovisual label, and his work for cello and piano, “The Kapak” was recorded by cellist Inbal Segev on the Avie Records label.

Mr. Goodyear’s discography includes the complete sonatas and piano concertos of Beethoven, as well as concertos by Tchaikovsky, Grieg and Rachmaninov, an album of Ravel piano works, and an album, entitled “For Glenn Gould”, which combines repertoire from Mr. Gould’s US and Montreal debuts.

KABIN THOMAS, NARRATOR

Kabin Thomas joined CPR Classical with decades of experience as a tuba player, actor and professor of classical music. For 11 years, he taught classical music to students at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. During that time he was also the narrator and host of the Emmy Awardwinning documentary, “The Sound of Dreams,” about the Hot Springs Music Festival.

Kabin was a substitute tuba player with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for 14 years. He and his wife currently perform a show called, “Peace, Love, and TubaStanding,” which uses

storytelling and music to tell a powerful story about love and courage amid racial tensions and fear.

Kabin served his country as a U.S. Marine and as a musician/ sailor at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Kabin studied acting and music at Wayne State University, as well as the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin.

PROGRAM NOTES

These program notes were written by undergraduate music majors of the Regis University Music Program (www.regis.edu/music). Together with their professor, Dr. Trudi Wright, they are experiencing music internships, developing career-readiness skills, and conducting an original research project in Dayton Memorial Library’s Special Collections.

Sergei Prokoﬁev (1891-1953) by Kevin Esparza, Monserrat Margaritz, and Lizzie Rowden

Sergei Prokofiev was a prominent Russian composer and virtuoso pianist, whose music was known for its modern edge and motoric rhythms. After finishing his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he left Russia during the revolution. From 1918-1934 he went abroad to different parts of Europe and America touring as a pianist and composer. Prokofiev permanently returned to the Soviet Union in 1936, where he had to carefully balance his own modernist style under the pressure of the Soviet artistic dogma of “socialist realism” (a style of idealized realistic art that was the official cultural doctrine in the USSR from 1932-1988). After enduring the difficult censorship of his music, Prokofiev died on March 5, 1953, the same day as Stalin.

Lieutenant Kijé Suite by Kevin Esparza, Monserrat Margaritz, and Lizzie Rowden

Lieutenant Kijé, a film that was never produced, was Prokofiev’s first score for that medium, written in 1933. The story centers on a fictional military officer, Lieutenant Kijé, who was “invented” due to a clerical error by members of the Russian military. Rather than admit their mistake, the bureaucrats

move Kijé up the ranks because Tsar Paul I takes a liking to the lieutenant. The imaginary officer is promoted, exiled, married, and eventually dies (because the Tsar wants to meet him) to perpetuate the farce. This film was meant as satiric commentary on Russian bureaucracy, which Prokofiev reflected through his music.

The Lieutenant Kijé Suite was extracted from the unproduced ﬁlm score in 1934. Throughout its ﬁve movements (The Birth of Kijé, Romance, Kijé’s Wedding, Troika, and The Burial of Kijé), the life of Kijé is played out. Audiences can hear militaristic themes including a recurring march-like motif, melodies based on Russian folksongs, and the inclusion of tenor saxophone, which is a unique choice for symphonic repertoire of the time. At the end of the piece Kijé’s life concludes suddenly and is accented using the whole orchestra.

Piano Concerto No. 3

by Lizzie Rowden

Sergei Prokofiev composed his Piano Concerto No. 3 while living abroad, premiering with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1921. Prokofiev played piano for this premiere, as he was establishing himself as a prominent composer in the United States and parts of Europe. This was during the period after he left the Soviet Union to escape the Russian Revolution and pursue international opportunities. World War I had ended only a few years prior, and Prokofiev was in a more experimental, modernist period of his career. Prokofiev’s third Piano Concerto is three movements and extremely demanding. It has become one of his more popular works over the course of time, as it balances modernism, dazzling themes, and exciting rhythmic drive.

The first movement begins calmly and then blossoms into an energetic theme that is continuously propelled forward. It has many athletic passages for the soloist and strong dissonances. The second movement begins gracefully, with a certain amount of lyricism, and has sudden shifts in mood and texture throughout. The third and final movement is more relentless and rhythmically charged but also has quieter moments to build suspense. In the end, the concerto races towards a brilliant, exciting finish, showcasing Prokofiev’s wit and unique modernistic style.

PROKOFIEV

Romeo and Juliet Suite by

Monserrat Margaritz and Lizzie Rowden

Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite is inspired by the Shakespearean tragedy and was originally composed as a full ballet in 1935. The music was turned into a suite in 1936 after the ballet faced production delays, since it was initially considered to be too intricate and was rejected by Soviet companies. Prokofiev wrote this piece during Stalin’s control of the Soviet Union, which meant his music had to adhere to the acceptable nationalistic style of the time. Still, he was able to work within these confines and compose something that was politically acceptable and fit within his unique sound. In 1938, following the success of his orchestral suite, Prokofiev’s full Romeo and Juliet ballet premiered in Brno, Czechoslovakia with its Russian premiere coming two years later with the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad. It quickly became a show piece of the Soviet ballet.

Throughout the Romeo and Juliet Suite, Prokofiev uses musical motifs and styles to portray Shakespeare’s story. When depicting Juliet’s teenage emotions, his music takes on changing styles including lyrical elegance and fluttering joy to match her character. When representing violent conflict, the music becomes dense, ominous and brutal, using brass instruments and motoric rhythms. There are also instances of passion and tenderness to represent love, with romantic use of the string section, as well as moments of great tragedy and loss throughout. Prokofiev uses musical contrast and harmony to capture this well-known story of secretive young love and public conflict.

Beyond the Note: Do you want to learn more about Prokofiev during the pre-WWII years? Please check out David Nice’s, Prokofiev: From Russia to the West 1891-1935 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003). Are you interested in hearing how Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite compares to other musical renderings of the same story? If so, listen to Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast, “Romeo and Juliet,” from August 3, 2023, https://stickynotespodcast.libsyn.com/romeo-and-julietin-classical-music.

$50,000+

Anonymous

Boulder Arts Commission

Grace & Gordon Gamm

SeiSolo

Wolman-Fulker Artful Humanity Fund

$20,000+

Jayne & Stephen Miller

Harry Poehlmann in memory Ellie Poehlmann

SCFD

Suzanne and Thomas Murphy Foundation

$10,000+

Suzanne & James Balog

Margot & Christopher Brauchli

Nancy Clairmont & Robert Braudes

Patricia Butler

Caroline Douglas & Samuel P Douglas, III

Mary Ann & Lee Erb

Marla & Jerry Meehl in memory of Marie Kindgren

Becky Roser & Ron Stewart

Phyllis Wise

$5,000+

Anonymous

Marilyn Gallant

Sara & David Harper

Lin & Matthew Hawkins

Ruth Irvin and the late Richard Irvin

Jane Kellogg and John Cowdrey in memory of William and Elizabeth Kellogg

Thomas Kinder

Judy & Steve Knapp

Erma Mantey

Anjali & Stefan Maus

Pam & Ed McKelvey

Margaret and Rodolfo Perez

Karyn Sawyer

Lynn Streeter

Alex Trifunac & Marion Thurnauer

Westland Development

$2,500+

The Academy Senior Living

Boulder County

Debra Brindis

Frances Burton

Jan Burton

Create Boulder and Visit Boulder

Pamela Dennis & Jim Semborski

Flatirons Bank

Constance Holden and TK Smith

SUPPORTERS

Recognizing the support of gifts received January 1, 2025 to December 1, 2025

Christine Yoshinaga-Itano & Wayne Itano

Annyce Mayer

Margaret & Rodolfo Perez

Patricia Read & BIll Shunk

Michele and Michael Ritter

Dr. Juan Roederer

Nancy and Gary Rosenthal

Boyce & Dan Sher

$1,000+

Anonymous

Robert Anderson

Shirley Berg

Blue Federal Credit Union

Boulder County Arts Alliance

Amy and Terry Britton

Carob Gift Fund

Toni & Nelson Chen

Donna Class

Jenny & Terry Cloudman

Warren DeHaan

Beverly & Bruce Fest

Audrey Fishman Franklin

Randy & Bill Ganter

The Hansson Family

Chuck Hardesty

Josephine and Rollie Heath

Janet Hendricks

Suzanne & David Hoover

Karen & Stewart Hoover

Carolyn & Sam Johnson

Eyal Kaplan

Judith Katz

Bonnie Kirschenbaum

Ray & Margot LaPanse

Joan Leinbach

George Lichter Family Fund

Miriam Linschoten

Susan Litt

Barbara & Peter Loris

Heidi Lynch

Robert Lynch

Annyce Mayer

Steve Miller

Estate of Diane Nemchak

Priscilla Newbury

Susan Olenwine & Frank Palermo

Charlotte Roehm

Rick Rosner

Luana Rubin in memory of Carolye Johnson

Laura & Mike Ruth

SavATree Boulder

Jane & Leo Schumacher in memory of Peter Angell

Jane & Ross Sheldon

Ron Sinton

Carol & Arthur Smoot

Pamela Walker

Ken & Ruth Wright

$500+

Alpine Bank

Roshmi & Jaydip Bhaumik

Sally & Alexander Bracken

Colorado Gives Foundation

Grant Couch

Margot Crowe

Ellen Dale & Buddy Kring

Claire & Art Figel

Susan Fishburne

Andrew Gettelman

Laurie Hathorn

Hazel’s Beverage World

Joyce & Jerry Laiserin in memory of Mel Gallant

Judith Auer & George Lawrence

Peggy Lemone & Peter Gilman

Barbara and Peter Loris

Katie MacDonald

Judy Megibow

Brenda Mehos in memory of Rich Irvin

Francine & Robert Myers

Newton Family Fund

Molly Parrish

Richard And Joan Ringoen Family Foundation

William Roettker

Charles Samson

Mary Scarpino

Marjorie & Bob Scha ner

Marianne Van Pelt

Shelby & Nicholas Vanderborgh

Pamela Walker

Sophie & Jack Walker

Kathy & Ed Wittman

$250+

Anonymous

Cynthia and Charles Anderson

Patricia Angell

Shirley Berg

Catherine Bickell

Bortz-Boyer Family Charitable Fund

Polly Buster

Julianne Cassady

Carol Cogswell

Karen Connolly

Margot Crowe

Louis Diamond

Barbara Fahey in memory of Mark Fahey

Nancy & Robert Fierer

Andrew Gettelman

Gino & Sue Grampp

Justin Guerra

Mark Halperin

Janice Harvey

Stephanie & Kyle Heckman

Jeannette & David Hillery

Holly & Steve Hultgren

David Kampert

Theresa Keatinge

Eileen Kintsch

Robb & Amy Krenz

Paul Levitt

Douglas Lerner

Anne-Laurie McRee

Andrew Miller

Kathleen Miller & Richard Nishikawa

Lily & Robert Moment

R&H Nadel

Barbara & Irwin Neulight

Martha Olson

Linda & Christopher Paris

Jim Pendleton

Jaclyn Ramaley

Peri Rigler

Susan Sidwell

Robert Spencer

Glen & Bonnie Strand

Wendy & Richard Wolf

In-kind:

Jan Burton

Stefan & Anjali Maus

Susan Olenwine & Frank Palermo

Nicky Wolman & David Fulker

Chas Wetherbee Endowed Concertmaster Chair Fund

Co-chaired by the generosity of Wolman-Fulker Artful Humanity Fund and Becky Roser & Ron Stewart

The Boulder Phil wishes to recognize and honor Chas Wetherbee, Concertmaster of the Boulder Phil from 2014 to 2023. Chas Wetherbee exempliﬁed the qualities of a Concertmaster with his extremely high level of performance, extensive knowledge, and love of the repertoire and the art form. Chas raised the standard of the orchestra and was a role model through his active role as a leader, mentor, and teacher in the community. His mindset was one of exploration and innovation and his contributions extend far and wide. Join us today and create a lasting legacy with the Chas Wetherbee Concertmaster Chair.

Boulder Phil Music Director Michael Butterman: “His presence was transformative. Chas brought out the best in everyone by modeling technical and artistic excellence, combined with professionalism and a deep devotion to the cause of sharing music widely and expanding the reach of classical music. Most important, he radiated generosity, kindness and a selﬂess spirit that anyone in his presence could feel. The impact of his legacy is impossible to overstate.”

For information, please contact mimi@boulderphil.org or call 303-449-0916.

Where music brings us together.

26 27 A SEASON TO SHARE

MASTERWORKS SERIES

SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 2

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Friday, October 23, 2026, 7 PM

Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2 PM

FUNG - Pizzicato

LIEBERMANN - Flute Concerto

SIBELIUS - Symphony No. 2

STRAVINSKY FIREBIRD SUITE

MACKY AUDITORIUM

Saturday, January 9, 2027, 7 PM

RAVEL - Le tombeau de Couperin

MOZETICH - Affairs of the Heart with Frequent Flyers

BARTÓK - Dance Suite

STRAVINSKY - The Firebird Suite

ELGAR CELLO CONCERTO

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Friday, February 26, 2027, 7 PM

Saturday, February 27, 2027, 2 PM

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS - Serenade to Music

HAYDN - Symphony No. 104, “London”

MENDELSSOHN - Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage

ELGAR - Cello Concerto

BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 5

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Friday, April 2, 2027, 7 PM

Saturday, April 3, 2027, 2 PM

PÄRT - Collage on B-A-C-H

BRAHMS - Double Concerto

BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 5

2026/27 SEASON BENEFITS

- Reserved seating at First United Methodist Church

- Two concert times to select from:

choose between evening and matinee

SAINT-SAËNS

SYMPHONY NO. 3, “ORGAN”

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Friday, June 4, 2027, 7 PM

Saturday, June 5, 2027, 2 PM

MOZART - Symphony No. 31, “Paris”

POULENC - Organ Concerto

SAINT-SAËNS - Symphony No. 3, “Organ”

- Ample parking with a parking garage located across the street

- Excellent food and dining options within walking distance

WHERE THE MUSIC CONTINUES

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - Planet Bluegrass - SHIFT SERIES | Rock Music: Unplugged

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - Planet Bluegrass - SHIFT SERIES | Country Music: Explored

Thursday, October 29, 2026 - Macky Auditorium - Discovery Concerts

Friday, December 11, 2026 - Longmont Museum - Winter Wind’erland

Saturday, December 12, 2026 - First United Methodist Church - Four Seasons

Date to be announced | 2027 - Fiske Planetarium - Boulder Phil Under the Stars

The power of orchestral music isn’t bound to the stage or hall. It lives in the artistry of musicians and the shared experience of listening —wherever those meet, the music reminds us why it matters.