Darko Butorac: What's Behind the Baton?

This morning's meeting began with Curt Belts leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Dick King gave a terrific invocation.  Dick said that with Presidents' Day coming he decided to read a response from President Lincoln to some Quakers who had written to him to show their support.  From January 5, 1863:  "It is most cheering and encouraging for me to know that in the efforts which I have made and am making for the restoration of a righteous peace to our country, I am upheld and sustained by the good wishes and prayers of God's people. No one is more deeply than myself aware that without His favor our highest wisdom is but as foolishness and that our most strenuous efforts would avail nothing in the shadow of His displeasure."
 
President Susan Hay Patrick welcomed back Bobby Clay.  Bobby thanked everyone for the kind thoughts and prayers and the wonderful food ("Cuisine for Clays") so many have provided.  He said that Patty is doing better and is now getting around on crutches.
 
Susan Patrick then thanked Brandon Naasz for filling in as Sergeant at Arms for the ailing David Bardwick.  Brandon said he was tempted to break his leg in a fall this morning so that he might begin receiving "Brandon's Buffets" from the club, but said he thought better of it.  Brandon introduced guests Ethan Herberle (Susan Patrick); Julie Betty (Jim Betty); Taylor Brown (Bob Brown); Debbie Didier (Arnie Didier) and visiting Rotarian Martha Ripley of the Noon club.  Brandon then shared some interesting facts about life in 1909, when life expectancy in the US was just 47 years.  The maximum speed limit in most places was 10 mph, $.22 per hour was the minimum wage, 90% of doctors had no college education, and women washed their hair once a month with borax or egg yolk.  Susan Patrick then asked that the record reflect that Brandon has set a new standard.  So noted-and thank you Brandon!
 
Adele Gibbs shared news from Gene Sterbis, who is at his winter home in Palm Springs.  Gene's wife had surgery two weeks ago and his 94-year-old mother passed away this week following a stroke.  Gene was able to be with his mother.  Her funeral will be this weekend.  We all send warm thoughts to Gene and his family.
 
Susan Patrick announced that we are losing Julie Titchbourne as she is moving to Helena.  We will miss you, Julie, and hope you'll transfer to a new club in Helena.
 
Lou Bahin reminded us that the ski outing to Discovery with the Youth Homes kids will be two weeks from this Saturday, February 27^th.  The group will plan to leave that morning around 7:30 or 8:00-with more details to follow soon.  If you've not yet signed up but would like to go please let Lou know.  Please remember that you need not be a skier to go-skiing is optional and any and all help is appreciated with the trip.
 
Anne Guest reported that the Five Valleys Land Trust event last Friday evening was great.  (Congrats, Glenn!)
 
Susan Patrick announced that the Board has approved club sponsorship of outbound Youth Exchange Student Hannah Showers (to Lyon, France) and Ari Jewell, with the GSE Team going to Brazil.
 
Susan Patrick thanked Margot Belden for her work on the electronic billing.  All members should have received a dues invoice via email.  Though the invoices say "thank you for your payment," note that ClubRunner has a glitch, and this is an invoice, not a receipt.  Payments can be sent to the club address, PO Box 5755, Missoula, MT 59806 or put in the payment box which will be set out at our meetings.  Susan also thanked Bobby Clay and Chris Warden for their help in crunching the numbers related to a potential credit card payment method.  As a result of that investigation, the Board has determined it is not financially feasible to accept credit cards for dues payments.  Thanks for your understanding!
 
Marshall Delano announced that the Missoula Art Museum's annual action will be held on Saturday, February 27^th at the museum.  Tickets are $100 for members and $125 for non-members.  Check details here:  www.missoulaartmuseum.org.
 
Lynda Frost announced that the Money Train Committee will meet next week following the regular meeting.
 
Those with contributions to the cookie jar this week:  Kris Paffhausen in honor of a great neighbor (Rusty!) for calling in the middle of the night to let her know her garage door was open; Arnie Didier who has used the Four Way Test in business and should be completing a deal because of the Test; Adele Gibbs (with a financial assist from Susan Patrick) with warm thoughts to Gene Sterbis and his family; and Susan Patrick in honor of Mary Windecker's one-year anniversary with Sunrise Rotary.
 
COOKIES:  Susan Patrick had cookies this week for Dave Bell (for completing the Polar Plunge last weekend and raising $500 for Special Olympics!); Trevor Lewis (happy birthday this coming Saturday!); Bobby Clay (welcome back!); and Mary Windecker (happy one-year MSR anniversary!)
 
Anne Guest then said it was truly an honor to introduce today's speaker, our own Darko Butorac.  Darko, from Belgrade, Serbia, came to the U.S. at age 11, to Seattle.  He later received his Masters in Music at the University of Indiana in cello.  Darko came to Missoula from Northern Arizona University where he was Director of Orchestras.  Anne said that Darko has turned the Missoula Symphony into the "hottest show in town."  He came to speak to us today about what is behind the baton.
 
Darko said that some may wonder why he is often away, and he has come to do a "show and tell" for the club.  He said being a conductor is one of the coolest jobs one can have, and through it he's traveled to some pretty cool places.  He shared photos of the many places he's visited, including incredible venues throughout Europe, the Himalayas, China and Indonesia, among others.  A "total adrenaline junkie" and "food junkie," Darko shared a map of his travels:  200,000 miles since his first concert in Missoula three years ago today:  February 10, 2007!
 
Darko said that while shaking his hair is an "important aspect" of his role as conductor, the goal is to "make himself useless" and to help but not get in the way.  Darko shared the five steps to turning paper sheet music into sound:  know the material; interpret the material; get your hands in order; rehearse; and the big performance.
 
In terms of knowing the material, Darko explained that he is proud when his scores get trashed, as that means he really KNOWS all the details of the music.  He said really knowing the music means analyzing each aspect of the music.  Darko explained that interpretation is done via the limits of the style and that the focus is how he can present the music to the audience with logical content and balance the nature of the orchestra.
 
Darko formed the "Rotary Orchestra" and spoke about baton technique.  He shared several batons throughout the group (they are made from wood or plexiglass) and are not called a wand!  Darko said that 90% of music uses a 4 part beat and he taught the group hand movements (think "floor, door, window, ceiling").  Maestros Anne Guest and Arnie Didier helped direct the "orchestra."
 
The rehearsal is difficult, Dark explained, and he is usually a "vegetable" for a time following rehearsal.  Greg Johnson helped Darko show just how difficult a rehearsal can be, when the conductor must focus on what is happening now, what just happened and what will happen.  Darko said a conductor is not just a policeman, and charisma is important.
 
The final step is the performance, and Darko explained that each performance is unique and there is only once chance!
 
A lively Q&A followed Darko's presentation.  Asked how difficult it is to manage a chorus with a symphony, Darko said that distance issues (the chorus is a ways back) make it difficult and timing is tricky.
 
With the Missoula Symphony, Darko said we are lucky that most musicians are local, with the exception of the harp.  Darko was asked whether you must master an instrument first before becoming a conductor.  He responded that experience with an orchestral instrument helps, especially a string instrument, and that most know the piano.  He conducted his first symphony at age 17 in high school in Seattle!
 
Asked how many languages he speaks, Darko said he speaks Serbian and English, and has studied French, German and Italian, so he gets by in Europe.  He said when he conducted in China it was difficult, though most people involved in music know at least some Italian.  However, he said, with language barriers hand technique is key.
 
Asked how he feels about a conductor not using a score (like soloists), Darko said he has always used a score and keeps eye contact with the orchestra as well.  He said he is not a fan of not using a score.
 
Following this captivating program, Susan Patrick thanked Darko, an "outstanding member of our club," and told him that a dictionary will be donated by the club to an area third-grader in his name. 
 
We then closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test.