Rod Butler Memorial Concert Honors Late Professor, Establishes Scholarship

The Department of Music at California State University, Dominguez Hills will present a special concert on Saturday, May 10, in celebration of the life of former department chair Rod Butler, who passed away suddenly last November. Featuring musical selections from his fellow faculty members in the music department, students, alumni and friends, the concert will begin at 8 p.m. and take place in the University Theatre. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m.

An alumnus of CSU Dominguez Hills (Class of ‘73), Butler returned to campus in 1991 as a music department faculty member. The 18 years between being a student and becoming a professor were spent furthering his studies, eventually earning a doctorate in music theory and composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara, teaching, and making a name for himself as a trombonist.

During his tenure as professor of music at CSU Dominguez Hills, Butler continued to compose original music, and exposed his students to the field like few professors do. He taught music composition, music theory, and directed the student jazz ensemble for many years. At the time of his death he was serving as chair of the music department, chair of the Division of Performing, Visual, and Digital Media Arts, and chair of the Academic Senate, the university’s faculty governing body.

A Southern California native, Butler attended Carson High School and graduated from Los Angeles Harbor College before attending CSU Dominguez Hills. He was a long-time resident of Redondo Beach.

Several of Butler’s former music students, some of whom have since graduated and become professional musicians, along with colleagues from throughout the university have come together for the special concert in his memory. They will be performing pieces by classical composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, and contemporary musicians and composers Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini and Chick Corea—all artists Butler loved.

The program also will feature original compositions by Butler: “L.A. Nocturne,” which he wrote for fellow music professor and acclaimed classical guitarist, Dr. Scott Morris, who will perform it that night, and “Fantasy on Days,” which will be performed by current music department chair, Dr. Richard Kravchak, on oboe. In addition, there will be performances of pieces written by two former students, and one written in Butler’s honor by his friend and colleague, Dr. Jonathon Grasse, professor of music.

The concert is free, but donations of $25 are requested. Proceeds benefit the new Rod Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund for music students.

For more information, call (310) 243-3543.

- Amy Bentley-Smith