(Michael Butterman conducts the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. Image by Kim Kiely Photography.)
By Jim Roberts
Dr. Jon E. Krapfl was a loyal subscriber to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 20 years. So loyal, in fact, that even after he moved to Williamsburg in the late 1990s, he would fly back to the Windy City for performances.
Then he discovered The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra.
“I found out it was an incredibly good orchestra,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised—but delighted—to find this one. I didn’t think a small symphony like this could do that well.”
Krapfl now serves as chair of the WSO’s board of trustees. He led the search committee that found Michael Butterman, who signed on as music director in 2022.
Butterman lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is affiliated with three other symphonies, but he travels to Virginia one week a month for rehearsals and performances. Krapfl said Butterman’s other commitments originally gave the board pause, but: “We decided to take a risk, and it’s worked out very well.”
“He is an extremely, extraordinarily talented music director,” Krapfl added. “He does a fantastic job of selecting pieces. He understands what it is that he’s dealing with in terms of the population, and that really makes a lot of difference.”
Butterman, a Springfield native and University of Virginia graduate, said “a lot of things” appealed to him about the Williamsburg job.
“First and foremost,” he said, “the quality of the orchestra itself—the artistic level is very high—and to be able to feel like you can accomplish a lot artistically with a group is very appealing for any kind of artist—any kind of music director.
“That, along with, quite honestly, the leadership of our executive director, Carolyn Keurajian, and the board itself,” he added. “Really, I thought all the pieces were in place that you need to not just succeed artistically, but also continue to grow your presence in the community and be more things to more people.”
The WSO will host a 40th Anniversary Gala at 5:30 p.m. March 8 at the William & Mary Alumni House. Individuals can attend for $175. Sponsorships are also available for $100 to $10,000.
The WSO website promises “fantastic food, an evening of music, and a night of celebration and fundraising.” (Or, in Krapfl’s words: “It’s really just an excuse for everybody to dress up … and at the same time to help the symphony out.”)
Butterman said the gala is an opportunity to celebrate what the orchestra has accomplished in its “relatively short lifetime of 40 years.”
“I’ve only been with it for the past three, of course, so my perspective is obviously not as wide as people who may have been there for much longer,” he said. “But, you know, this orchestra and this organization have really grown in those 40 years, and it’s just a good chance to kind of acknowledge that and look forward to the next chapter in the in the organization’s growth.”
The next chapter may include a new live performance venue—an effort being led by Krapfl.
“We have a number of people who’ve expressed an interest in helping us out,” he said, “and I believe they will. So I believe we’re going to do very well. I’m pretty sure we’re going to get this thing built.”
Upcoming Performances
In addition to the 40th Anniversary Gala, the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra has three performances left in the 2024-2025 season:
- “Bluegrass & Beethoven” on Feb. 25
- “The Planets” on March 18
- “From The New World” on May 14
All performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Community Chapel and include pre-concert talks from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $15 to $70. Livestreams are available for $40.
The WSO will also host a “Side-By-Side Concert” with the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra at 4 p.m. May 4. All tickets are $10.
For tickets and more information, visit williamsburgsymphony.org.
