New String Orchestra Conductor!
Sophia Butler has been named the interim String Orchestra Conductor for the upcoming season. Sophia was a member of MYS for six years and teaches band, orchestra, and jazz at South High School in Minneapolis.
MYS is thrilled to welcome one of our own alumni, Sophia Butler, as the interim String Orchestra conductor for the 2025–26 season. On Sophia’s return to MYS, Artistic Director Mark Mandarano remarks, “Sophia is the ideal leader to carry on the tradition of fun and supreme musicality with the MYS String Orchestra. She's a consummate fiddler in many styles, a devoted educator and a true team player. I know our students and families will be delighted to join me in welcoming Sophia (back) into the MYS family!"
Sophia Butler grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, and played in MYS for 6 years as a young musician. She attended St. Olaf college to study music and anthropology, having opportunity to play in the St. Olaf Orchestra and sing in the Chapel Choir. Sophia reflects, “When I was in sixth grade, my very first orchestra experience was, in fact, String Orchestra at MYS. I’m looking forward to being a part of this MYS community again and making music with all of String Orchestra every Saturday!”
After graduating, she took a fellowship in Juneau, Alaska, to teach elementary and high school orchestra and choir that was rooted in the values and pedagogies of El Sistema. After receiving her teaching license and masters degree in teaching from the University of Alaska Southeast, she accepted a Fulbright grant to teach in Sarawak Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, where she also got learn the music traditions of the Bedayu and Iban people.
In 2018, Sophia returned to Minnesota and was fortunate to be hired as the orchestra teacher at South High School, where she now teaches band, orchestra, and jazz. When she is not teaching, Sophia is out performing as a violinist/violist, trying out new restaurants, or enjoying the outdoors with her partner and dog.
Sophia will be sitting in on many of the String Orchestra auditions this summer. Please join us in welcoming Sophia Butler to MYS!
