“Paul John Stanbery’s down-to-Earth style made him popular with musicians and audiences alike,” reads an unsigned obituary in Tuesday’s (2/9) Cincinnati Enquirer (OH). Stanbery died after a long fight with oral cancer. “The Butler Philharmonic’s music director [July 15, 1954 – February 6, 2021] also served as music director of the Ohio Mozart Festival and Butler Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and [was] associate conductor of the Lima Symphony in Ohio. His guest conducting appearances … included performances with the Western Piedmont Symphony, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport (La.) Symphony Orchestra and the University of Cincinnati (CCM). He was a regular guest with the Miami University Symphony Orchestra…. Paul was also the founding conductor of the Blue Ash-Montgomery Symphony and the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestras…. Paul worked for 19 years as Music Director of All Saints Parish and School in Cincinnati, and [was] an educator for more than 30 years … In 1995, he became Director of the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony (renamed The Butler Philharmonic). Under his leadership, it grew dramatically…. His work with the BPO Youth Orchestra helped form … a cooperative venture between the Butler Philharmonic and the Lane Public Library System … His work with the Lima Symphony also included educational concerts in schools.” He is survived by his wife, Patricia, two brothers, and six children.
Change font size
