Michael Butterman credits George Eastman's legacy for his unique position as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's principal conductor for education and outreach, the only position of its kind in the nation. Eastman believed that the orchestra had the responsibility to bring music to all Rochesterians, including children, Butterman told City recently, speaking by phone from his home in Louisiana. "The RPO has a history of championing musical education and lifelong learning that began with George Eastman," Butterman says.

On Sunday, February, 21, at Hochstein, Rochester's children have the opportunity to experience classical music in a kid-friendly fashion when Butterman leads the RPO in the orKIDStra concert "The Story of Babar the Little Elephant," a celebrated musical score for young people that adapts the Jean de Brunhoff classic children's book.

Any parent who has seen Butterman in action knows that he possesses an affinity with children; with characteristic animation and enthusiasm, he identifies the instruments on stage for his young audiences and helps them interpret the music they are hearing, but steers clear of condescension. Parents may well pick up some musical knowledge, too.

Butterman has nurtured the orKIDStra program from its conception 10 years ago, and it is clearly a program to which he is deeply committed. "During the early years, all those neural pathways are being fused in the way your children will use them for the rest of their lives. Learning to recognize pitch, rhythm, and the ‘steady beat' are valuable at this early age," Butterman says. "Most parents read to their kids, but I hope parents sing to their kids as well. Down the road it affects them in ways you can't predict."

Parents can see the benefits of a musical education first-hand at the concert, as 12-year-old violinist Helen Wong, a seventh grader at Spry Middle School in Webster and a student of the RPO's Boris Zapesochny, will be a featured performer in the Rondo movement from Edouard Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole." Also look for works by Bizet and Debussy during the concert.

Butterman is a celebrated conductor in other realms as well. He carries more than a full load professionally, splitting his time between positions as music director for both the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shreveport (Louisiana) Symphony, and resident director for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

The OrKIDStra series has two more concerts planned for this season. The orchestral piece "Mr. Smith's Composition" will take audiences through the choices involved in composing music on April 11, and the classic Russian fairytale "The Firebird" will come to life with the help of Underground Railway Theater's shadow puppetry on May 9.

"The Story of Babar" concert starts at Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, 50 N Plymouth Ave. Pre-performance kids events will begin at 1 p.m., and a free visit from the Seneca Park Zoomobile will start at 3 p.m. for ticketholders. Tickets cost $10-$15. For more information call 454-2100 or visit rpo.org.