Butterman has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and Louisiana Philharmonic.

As the 1999 recipient of the Seiji Ozawa fellowship, he studied at Tanglewood with Ozawa and Robert Spano, sharing the podium with the former to lead that season's opening concert.

Other experience includes serving as director of orchestral studies at the LSU School of Music and principal conductor of the LSU Opera Theater. Prior to joining the faculty at LSU, he was associate conductor of the Columbus Pro Musica Orchestra, and served as music director of the Chamber Opera, Studio Opera, and Opera Workshop at the Indiana University School of Music.