New executive director lauds skill of Butler County Symphony Orchestra
The moment Edward DeSantis left the first Butler County Symphony Orchestra concert he had ever attended, he called the association’s executive director search committee to beg for the job.
DeSantis, the new executive director of the symphony association, said the skill of the musicians prompted his interest in working for the organization, because their talents blew him out of the water as an out-of-towner.
“Once I fully grasped the ability of these musicians, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” DeSantis said. “They really are that good.”
The symphony association began searching for a new executive director in December, when John Furman announced he planned to retire from the role in 2024. Herb Nichol, marketing director for the symphony association, said its board of directors organized a search committee to find an executive director, which was separate from the ongoing search for a new musical director.
After conducting numerous interviews, the association’s search committee recommended DeSantis, and the board of directors approved his employment at a meeting in April.
DeSantis was working as assistant borough manager of Etna in Allegheny County, and although his partner is from Butler, he had not seen a performance by the symphony orchestra until he was in the running to be the association’s executive director.
Patricia Stagno, president of the symphony’s board of directors, was on the search committee for the executive director. She said the executive director is responsible for organizing the symphony’s season and also for fundraising and garnering sponsorships. It was DeSantis’ experience in governmental management, Stagno said, that made him the ideal candidate.
“His other experiences are more what brought him to the position in what attracted us to his talents,” Stagno said. “Edward is calling a lot of the shots and … being involved in fundraising and the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the nonprofit and performing arts group.”
The symphony association also recently hired an administrative assistant, Stagno said, who is also involved in the administrative duties DeSantis is taking on as executive director.
The Butler County Symphony Orchestra Association, established in 1948, is a nonprofit that relies on fundraising to pay its staff and performing musicians and to purchase the rights to music played at its concerts. The association normally puts on six concerts each year, but the staff and board of directors also provide educational programs at schools and other community events.
Since early 2023, the association has been searching for a new conductor/musical director, following the departure of the previous conductor, Matthew Kraemer. According to Stagno, DeSantis’ role in the search for a new conductor is mainly communicating with the three finalists, who are each guest conducting a concert this season as part of their “audition.”
DeSantis has spoken with all three finalists for the role and said each is a well-respected musician. He added that as an instrumentalist himself, the musicians of the symphony have impressed him.
“I played guitar in some rock bands the bulk of my life, but even when I was in the peak, I couldn't touch these musicians,” DeSantis said.
While the search for a conductor continues, DeSantis said as the organization’s new face he has been meeting with people of the community to promote the symphony. He said season tickets for the 2024-25 season — which begins Oct. 5 — are already close to selling out.
DeSantis said he is looking forward to getting more involved with the community and has been urging people to attend the symphony orchestra’s concerts to “be amazed” for themselves.
“It's not just a community orchestra; it really is a large, well-established orchestra continuing to grow,” DeSantis said. “I'm incredibly excited.”
