1950

Butte Civic Concert Orchestra begins rehearsing.

1955

Board of Directors formed. First concert series of three concerts
perfomed.

1956

First incorporation of Butte Civic Concert Orchestra.

1961

First perfomance of Messiah with formation of the chorus.

1963

The Symphony Guild is formed to sell tickets, host symphony
functions and raise money. first professional musicians hired as
soloists.

1964

First dinner concert, "Night in Vienna" performed.

1965

Junoir Chorale formed to supplement school music programs.

1966

"Butte Civic Concert Orchestra" is changed to "Butte Symphony
Orchestra."

1967

December 10 presentation of "Christmas Night" (by Hugo Wolf)
with orchestra and chorus.

1971

The Junior Symphonette is founded to supplement school music
programs.

1974

Re-incorporation of The Butte Symphony Association.

1975

Non-profit IRS status awarded June 27.

1976

Increased attendance forces move to East Junior High School.

1982

Concert in Dillon with the newly formed local symphony.

1983

Fifty-five musicians, an all-time high, perform before the largest
audience ever.

1989

Centennial program with Montana Tech Chorus, folk dancers,
and a drill team. Original music by Leopold Medina (conductor).

1990

A printed concert program with advertising brings a new revenue
source and helps fund professional soloists.

1991

Soloists (guest artists) are featured in each concert. String
players from Missoula, Bozeman and other Montana cities
are hired to supplement local musicians in performances.

1992

Use of guest artists and import players continues and improves
performances.

1993

Record attendance of over 800 for the Holiday concert.
The largest donor category is filled for the first time by two
concert sponsors, Lee Enterprises and Westinghouse Corporation.

1994

Matthew Savery is hired as Music Director/Conductor with support
from the Montana Cultural Trust. A record 960 people attend the
Beethoven concert. All four season concerts are sponsored by local
businesses.

1995

Butte Symphony attracts over 4000 audience members during
the concert year as the symphony debuts in the newly refurbished
Mother Lode Theatre. A special concert appearance as part of the
Anaconda Community Concert Series expands the Butte Symphony’s
visibility.

1996

The Butte Symphony sponsors an appearance by the National
Symphony Orchestra. The concert is sold out a month before the
performance. The Butte Symphony begins reserved seating in the
Mother Lode Theatre.

1999

Matthew Savery resigns as conductor. James Allen Anderson from
North Carolina and a graduate of the Eastman School of Music is
hired. The 50th Anniversary Season is celebrated with a specially
commissioned piece of work "...in the Mines of Desire."

2002

After two very successful seasons, Conductor James A. Anderson
resigns to take a teaching and conducting position in North Carolina.
The last concert performance of the 2002 season was a specially
commissioned work The Glittering Hill about the old mining days in
the city of Butte, and composed by Butte native Daniel Bukvich.

2003

After a season-long conductor search, Elizabeth Stoyanovich is
hired as the Music Director/Conductor and signed to
a six-year contract.