Michael Butterman on OrKIDStra Series

The RPO’s OrKIDStra Series introduces children to orchestral music through fun and engaging concerts. Thanks to RPO Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach Michael Butterman for sharing his thoughts on the upcoming season.

“We open with The Orchestra Games—a mock Olympics sort of competition featuring the various instruments and sections of the orchestra and a narrator providing ‘play-by-play’ commentary. We'll have fun discovering which instruments can play the fastest, loudest, highest, lowest, and so on.

“Narrators join us for the next couple of concerts as well, including Tales of Russia—which weaves together folk tales and vivid music by various composers—and a musical setting of The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket, author of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books for kids. I think this one will have a special appeal to the slightly older kids in our audience, say, ages 8 and up. 

“And then guest conductor Neil Varon will be joined by an animated co-host—Picardy Penguin. Picardy appears on screen and interacts with the conductor, orchestra, and audience in real time as he explores the building blocks of music.”

Watch a preview of Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead below, featuring commentary by author Lemony Snicket and composer Nathaniel Stookey.