Dayton, Ohio (April 9, 2012) – With all necessary approvals in place for the merger of the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the three arts organizations are beginning the implementation process that will result in a single, merged organization as of July 1, 2012.
Among the final authorization steps were two key approvals required from the separate memberships of the Dayton Opera Association and the Dayton Ballet Association. (Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s by-laws only required Board approval; membership approval was not required.)
Those approvals were made on Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, March 1, 2012 when the respective memberships of the Dayton Ballet Association and Dayton Opera Association were convened and approved the merger.
Jeremy Trahan, Dayton Ballet Board Chair and a partner with the Thompson Hine law firm, described the shared mindset that made the merger planning process successful. “Each of our stakeholder groups understood that our decisions were not about protecting turf,” he said. “We all understood that it was about preserving the art. If we can do better to enhance the art, to advance collaboration and stimulate audience development, then we will have truly succeeded.”
As July 1, 2012 approaches, the next significant step in the successful merger is to create a new Board of Trustees.
“We’re very appreciative of the membership’s vote of confidence in the merger,” said Opera Board Chair Greg Robinson. “We’re also looking forward to a strong, new Executive Committee to lead the Board of the merged organization.”
Trahan is also the Chair-elect of the emergent Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Board of Trustees. Planning for a new Board structure for the Arts Alliance started with creation of an Executive Committee. Along with Chair-elect Trahan, Craig Jennings, Dayton Opera board member, will serve as Vice Chair, Craig Brown, also from the Ballet Board with Trahan will be the new Alliance Board Treasurer, and Dick DeLon, currently Chair of the Philharmonic Board, will be the Secretary of the new Alliance Board.
Paul Helfrich, currently President of the Philharmonic and newly named President and Chief Executive Officer for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, described the process of constituting a new Board for the Alliance. He said a Nominating Committee has been created by bringing together two current members from each of the arts organizations’ boards. Their task will be to nominate members of what will be up to a 36-person governing Board for the Alliance.
“Our new board will have the serious and challenging task of overseeing the implementation of the merger,” Trahan said of the new Board’s assignment. “We must now act on the opportunities that the merger creates for our Alliance. We look to act as one board, to protect and enhance the rich histories of three preeminent performing arts organizations. I am very excited to be involved with this mission. Our new board will be built upon our commitment to, and strong continuing support of, opportunities to enhance the movement, the voice and the music of the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera and Dayton Philharmonic.”
Philharmonic Board Chair Dick DeLon echoed Trahan, saying, “I, too, am excited by the prospects for significant artistic collaborations in the future and believe our new venture could become a model for other communities."
Helfrich compared the process of merging three performing arts organizations into a single entity to developing a musical score for an orchestra but with a major distinction. “We’ve never done anything like this before. In fact, as far as we know, no one has. It’s very exciting to be breaking new ground in a way that we feel is destined for great success.”
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