Dr. Scott Woodard
Conductor of the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra
Maestro Woodard is from West Virginia where he is the Founding Artistic Director & Conductor of the Charleston Chamber Orchestra and the Cover Conductor for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He is also the Conductor and Organizer of the Orchestra of the Hills and Chorus, an annual benefit concert first held in 2016 to benefit the schools of West Virginia that were devastated in massive flooding in June of that year.
In a career approaching the 3-decade mark, Maestro Woodard has worked with a wide range of students. He has taught in public school band programs at both middle school and high school, and he has taught at the college level. He has taught both music and conducting; and has arranged and overseen tours, both international and domestic. Maestro Woodard’s guest conductor appearances have been in St. Petersburg, Russia; Macon, Georgia; and with several regional orchestras in West Virginia and Ohio.
Maestro Woodard earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University, and both his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degrees from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. He has studied conducting in St. Petersburg, Russia, and done private study with Maestros Leonid Korchmar, Oleg Proskurnya, and Adrian Gnam. He has won conducting competitions in the US and abroad. Maestro Woodard’s professional memberships include The Conductor’s Guild and the National Association for Music Education.
James Ledbetter
Conductor of the Butler Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
James Ledbetter holds both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Music Education from Wright State University, with emphasis in Double Bass and Classical Guitar. His principal teachers include Donald Compton, Mark Morton, Jim McCutcheon, and Douglas Neidt.
As a Conducting Fellow at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Ledbetter studied with Paul Vermel, Donald Portnoy, Peter Jaffe, and Victoria Bond. A former conductor of the Springfield Youth String Ensemble, Youth Chamber Orchestra and the Youth Symphony, in 2006 he led over 180 students in the world premiere of Mark Bernard’s Fantasia on the Water is Wide.
A double bassist, his performance credits include: The Springfield Symphony, Middletown Symphony, Butler Philharmonic Orchestra, Wright State University Chamber and Community Orchestras, as well as the Wright State University Department of Theatre and Motion Pictures.
As a teacher, Mr. Ledbetter has served as Orchestra Director for the Kettering City Schools, Hamilton City Schools and the Forest Hills City Schools. Additionally, Mr. Ledbetter is the Director of Music for the Lindenwald Baptist Church in Fairfield, Ohio where his diverse music background is engaged.
Houston Tyrrell
Conductor of the Butler Philharmonic Chorus
A passionate musician and advocate for the local choral and orchestral community, Houston Tyrrell is based in Cincinnati, OH, and hails from Louisville, KY. He currently holds the positions of Assistant Artistic Director for the Viva Voices Choral Organization, Director of the Butler Philharmonic Chorus, and Director of Music and Choirs at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church NKY. His previous experience includes roles as Assistant Conductor for the UK Symphony Orchestra, UK Philharmonic, and the UK Opera Theater Program.
As a tenor, Houston is celebrated for his musicianship, versatility across genres, and compelling storytelling abilities. He has performed various roles with esteemed opera companies such as Cincinnati Opera, Opera Maine, and Kentucky Opera, and has collaborated with professional choral ensembles, including the American Spiritual Ensemble under Everett McCorvey, the Fusion Ensemble under Howard Helvey, and Coro Volante under Brett Scott.
As a private voice pedagogue, Houston maintains studios for students of all ages and abilities at NKU Music Prep, Indian Springs Academy of Music, and his own private studio teaching out of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. He received his M.M. and B.M. from the University of Kentucky.