Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
THE LUCAS THEATRE FOR THE ARTS
DARKO BUTORAC guest conductor
WILLIAM SUH cello
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 (Eroica)
Darko Butorac stands out as one of the most compelling conductors of his generation, praised for his “exceptional combination of passion, elegance, and well-timed pacing” (Westdeutsche Zeitung). He serves as the Music Director of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, where his innovative programming and dynamic leadership have captivated audiences.
Butorac has guest-conducted numerous prestigious orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Notable performances include the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Neuss and the Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt (Germany), the Rubinstein Philharmonic of Łódź (Poland), the Xiamen Symphony (China), the Tallinn Sinfonietta (Estonia), the Belgrade Philharmonic, and the Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra. His passionate and precise interpretations have earned him widespread acclaim.
He has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Renée Fleming, Garrick Ohlsson, Olga Kern, Béla Fleck, Chris Thile, Jon Kimura Parker, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Anthony McGill, and Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons. He has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Gran Teatro Nacional of Lima, Belgrade’s Kolarac Hall, the Teatro Magnani in Italy, and the Tartu, Aspen, and St. Olav summer music festivals.
In addition to his work in Asheville, Butorac served as the Music Director of the Tallahassee Symphony, where he was known for innovative programming and community engagement. He broadened the orchestra’s reach, introducing eclectic repertoires that attracted new audiences and fostered a deeper appreciation for orchestral music.
A cornerstone of Butorac’s career is his commitment to education and outreach. He has led masterclasses and workshops worldwide, sharing his expertise with the next generation of musicians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he pioneered virtual formats to keep the orchestral experience alive for audiences and students alike.
As a Grand Prix Laureate of the Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition, Butorac’s accolades reflect his exceptional talent and dedication to the art of conducting. His TEDx talk on leadership and the role of the conductor has garnered nearly 200,000 views, resonating with a wide audience and highlighting his ability to inspire both within and outside the concert hall.
Fluent in multiple languages and deeply rooted in a multicultural background, Butorac brings a unique perspective to his work, blending tradition with innovation. His vision for the future of orchestral music emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic integrity, continually striving to break down barriers and bring the transformative power of music to all.
Cellist William Suh has been recognized for his engaging musicianship, dynamic tonal color and artistic sincerity in concerts throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. The first prizewinner of the National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artists Competition, Suh has also earned first prizes from the Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards, Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Competition, Music Teachers National Association String Competition and the concerto competitions of The Juilliard School, Aspen Music Festival and New England Conservatory. Suh also holds top awards from the New York International Artists Association and Hellam Young Artist competitions. A recipient of the Aldo Parisot Prize and Broadus Erle Prize from the Yale School of Music and the Young Artist Award from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Suh’s performances have been featured on WQXR, WMFT, and National Public Radio.
Recent and upcoming concerts include Suh’s Alice Tully Hall debut, performing Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Juilliard Orchestra and Earl Lee, Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra, along with featured recitals at the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (Chicago), the Friends of Classical Music Series (Greenport, Long Island), and the St. Botolph Club Foundation (Boston), where he received the 2025 Emerging Artist Award. Suh’s notable past appearances include concerts at the Art Live Theater International Hall in Kyoto with the Kyoto International Music Festival Orchestra, his New York City debut recital presented by the Musicians Club of New York, and the Paesaggi Musicali Toscani Festival in Val d’Orcia, Italy. Suh has also appeared as soloist with the Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra, and the New England Conservatory Symphony at Jordan Hall under the direction of Hugh Wolff.
Suh’s chamber music collaborations include concerts with distinguished artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Inon Barnatan, Melvin Chen, Phillip Ying, and the late Roger Tapping. Festival appearances include Norfolk, Kneisel Hall, the Fellowship Program of the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop; he has also worked with members of the Cleveland, Emerson, Guarneri, Juilliard & Tokyo string quartets and the Weilerstein trio. Suh’s formative years of study were through the Perlman Music Program Summer Music School and its Suncoast Winter Residency, where he studied under Clara Kim, Zvi Plesser, and Astrid Schween.
Suh is an Artist Diploma candidate at The Juilliard School, where he serves as a teaching assistant to Natasha Brofsky and Astrid Schween. He holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, New England Conservatory, and an Academy Diploma from the Colburn School. Suh’s principal mentors include Natasha Brofsky, Astrid Schween, the late Joel Krosnick, Paul Watkins, Paul Katz and Clive Greensmith; further studies included masterclasses and lessons with Marc Coppey, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Laurence Lesser and Truls Mørk. Suh performs on a 1913 cello by Carl Becker Sr. on generous loan from the Colburn Collection. | williamsuh.com
