Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Launches Public Phase of $1.4 Million Sustainability Campaign

Donated funds to be utilized for a three-year period of business model redesign and innovation

DAYTON, Ohio, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Dayton region's largest and oldest performing arts organization, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO), has announced a special fundraising campaign called Protect & Secure.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20031015/DPOLOGO)

Its objective is to support the Orchestra during the current times of unusual economic challenge and accelerated innovation. The campaign goal is $1.4 million and it is Co-Chaired by beloved Dayton arts benefactors Leon & Betsy Whitney. Longtime DPO friends Robert and Barbara O'Hara and the Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association donated the first critical lead gifts. The campaign total currently stands at $1,018,891.

The quiet phase of the campaign commenced in June 2009, with the public phase announced at last weekend's classical concerts ("Russian Giants" featuring the music of Borodin, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky) at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio.

At those concerts, DPO Music Director Neal Gittleman and Mr. and Mrs. Whitney unveiled news regarding the Charles D. Berry Challenge. Retired Berry Company executive and noted Dayton arts philanthropist, Charles Berry, has committed to match every dollar given until the $1.4 million goal has been reached.

"We thank Chuck for this incredible boost to this important campaign, and want to give special notice to all the nose-to-the-grindstone, behind-the-scenes work by our good friends, the Whitney's," observes Neal Gittleman, DPO Music Director. "We have excellent momentum and now we'll be looking to DPO fans and supporters from the region, and nationally, to put us over the top," adds DPO President, Paul Helfrich.

After the scope of the 2008 financial crisis had become apparent, DPO President, Paul Helfrich, and Board Chair, Wendy Campbell, convened a group of seasoned regional business leaders plus the DPO's President, Music Director, Trustees and an Orchestra Player's Committee representative to assess the organization's response. The group, dubbed the Business Model Review Group (BMRG), responded quickly, generating a group of recommendations to be implemented in a fast-track process. The fundamental changes ran the gamut from implementing several new series, dropping less effective programming, trimming overhead (such as salaries), and launching the Protect & Secure Campaign.

The campaign donations are crucially needed to help the Dayton Philharmonic through three years of rapid change and to emerge in the 2012–2013 season with a budget that will balance without any special one-time, non-repeatable assistance.

The 2011-2012 DPO Season, "The Originals," unveiled at the annual New Year's Eve concert on December 31st 2010, is possibly the earliest next-season launch of any American orchestra. That season will see the DPO field a schedule of 50 concert dates, a range of free community concerts and a robust Education Program serving 50,000 school children in 13 counties. Says DPO Marketing Director, Dave Bukvic, "We re-thought our series lineup with a fresh eye toward a wider variety of music genres, enhanced presentation, new subscription package types and a revolutionary approach aimed at pulling in new audiences." As a result, the 2010-2011 Season subscriptions grew by 2.5%, with another increase of the same size showing in the early results for the 2011-2012 Season.

"Some important components of this process were understanding the changing needs of the community, keeping everyone informed, working well with the musician's union and taking well-considered, measured steps," reports Board Chair Wendy Campbell. "We are so fortunate to have such incredible music here on our stage," said Campaign Co-Chair Lee Whitney at the campaign announcement on Friday, March 11th.

"We want to thank the musicians of the Orchestra for inspiring all of us."

Donors are encouraged to send contributions to:

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

Performance Place at the Schuster Center  /  109 North Main Street, Suite 200  /  Dayton, Ohio 45402 or donate online at daytonphilharmonic.com

About the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra & Music Director Neal Gittleman

ORCHESTRA MISSION: To enliven the spirit, inspire the imagination, cultivate the musical appreciation, and serve the education and entertainment needs of Greater Dayton and surrounding communities

Founded in 1933, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra has a distinguished place in the Gem City's history as one of the Miami Valley's oldest and longest standing cultural institutions. The Dayton Philharmonic is a regional orchestra with 83 contracted musicians. Today, rich in artistic tradition, the Orchestra is proud to call the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center its home. The Schuster Center is a world-class, state-of-the-art performance hall that regularly attracts a great number of arts aficionados from all corners of Ohio and the nation.

Music Director Neal Gittleman inspires each listener's imagination with his unique programming, in-depth comments, easy-going style and infectious enthusiasm for music. His focus is to make symphonic music readily available, as well as appreciated, by all musical tastes. Under his direction, the Orchestra has received the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music eight times. Maestro Gittleman continues to bring breakthrough programming to the Dayton Philharmonic. His tenure has seen the addition of four new subscription series: Classical Connections, a beginner's guide to better understanding of classical music and the Family Series, four concerts designed so that kids of all ages can experience the wonders of classical music. In addition, new this season: the Rockin' Orchestra Series at the Schuster Center and Symphony Sundaes at the Masonic Center. Under Gittleman, the Dayton Philharmonic has also expanded and diversified its non-subscription special event program offerings, including a wide range of innovative Special Events.

Neal Gittleman has been on the Dayton Philharmonic podium since September 1995. He continues to broaden the Orchestra's repertoire with more 20th century compositions and additional variety in programming. With Maestro Gittleman at the helm, the Orchestra continues to enjoy renewed community support and increased artistic vision. He has introduced a number of world, American and Dayton Philharmonic premieres and has expanded performance collaboration within Dayton's arts community.

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra performances are made possible in part by Montgomery County and Culture Works, the single largest source of community funds for the arts and culture in the Miami Valley. Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency created to foster and encourage the development of the arts and to preserve Ohio's cultural heritage. Funding from the Ohio Arts Council is an investment of state tax dollars that promotes economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohio residents.

SOURCE Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra