Fall / Winter 2024
September
Dvořák, Stravinsky, and Brahms
September 13 & 14
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific
September 21 & 22
Chamber Music: Influences and Innovations
September 29
October
Dayton Ballet Studio Ensemble: Momentum
October 6
Coppélia
October 18, 19 & 20
Don’t Stop Believin’: The Music of Journey
October 26
Young People’s Concert: Pure Imagination
October 30
November
Broadway By Request
November 2
Beethoven, London, and a World Premiere
November 8 & 9
Elf in Concert
November 22 & 23
December
DPYO Winter Concert
December 1
Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors
December 6
Hometown Holidays
December 7
The Nutcracker
December 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22
Handel’s Messiah
December 18
December 20
To
our beloved Greater Miami
Valley community,
We are pleased to be back with another season of performances that will exhilarate your mind, lift your spirit, and electrify your imagination!
We have collected your feedback— whether via survey, through a standing ovation, or in casual conversation at Starbucks. We have listened: there were performances you wanted to see; works that, perhaps, you weren’t crazy about; new ideas; and old favorites. Our one-of-a-kind artistic team has taken this feedback and crafted a thrilling lineup specifically for you.
In addition to all the performances you see on stage, DPAA serves over 65,000 students and adults through our learning programs: the Dayton Ballet School, Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, concerts for students downtown and performances in their schools, and so much more. Stay tuned this season as we announce some groundbreaking partnerships that will expand our Learning and Community Engagement work with students of all ages!
And finally, to add to the buzz, we celebrate Neal Gittleman in his 30th year at the helm of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. During Neal’s tenure, he’s led the orchestra to artistic heights and played an integral role in shepherding the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance into fruition. For his 30th and final season, we celebrate Neal through crowd-favorite artists, world premieres, and monumental classics. We hope that you will attend often this season!
Whether you’re with us for the first time or returning for the hundredth, welcome!
All Our Best,
Patrick J. Nugent President and CEO
Joseph Zehenny DPAA Board Chair
Audience Resources
Is this your first time at a DPAA event? If so, welcome! To ensure your visit is meaningful and enjoyable, we offer the following resources.
Box Office
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance proudly partners with Dayton Live for its box office services. Contact the box office at (937) 228-3630 or visit the office in the Schuster Wintergarden.
Restrooms
Restrooms—and family restrooms—are available on each level of the Schuster Center and Victoria Theatre.
Accessibility
DPAA is committed to providing easy access to the arts. If you have accessibility needs or questions, please contact the box office.
Audio description is available upon request for patrons who have vision loss. Describers provide a live, objective, descriptive delivery of the visual elements of a performance in between the dialogue and/or music via a small receiver. Requests must be received two weeks prior to an event and are subject to the availability of the Describer. Please call the box office to make arrangements.
Assistive listening devices are available for all performances. Check out a device from the guest services kiosk or from a house manager in the lobby.
DPAA provides sign language interpretation upon request for performances at the Schuster Center and Victoria Theatre. Requests for sign language interpretation must be received two weeks prior to the event and are subject to the availability of the Interpreter. Please call the Box Office to make arrangements.
Age Recommendation
Our events are recommended for age 6 and up.
Military Appreciation and Discount Programs
In addition to our standard military discount, DPAA offers a Military Appreciation Program for active-duty military members, retired veterans with ID cards, and WPAFB government civilian employees in the region. Each household may
receive four free tickets annually. Contact the box office to redeem.
Group Sales
Bring a group of 10 or more; share a one-of-akind experience; and save up to 30% on tickets! Contact our Engagement & Patron Services Manager, Kate LaFollette, at (937) 535-5443.
Local Dining
Make it a night on the town! We recommend the following dining options: Blind Bob’s, Figlio Wood Fired Pizza, Jay’s Seafood, Joui, Lily’s, Manna Uptown, Meadowlark Restaurant, Mudlick Tap House, Salar Restaurant and Lounge, Spaghetti Warehouse, Table 33, The Caroline, and Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse.
Lost and Found / Security
In the event you lose an item at a performance or require assistance from the security team, call (937) 637-7366. For the safety of those in the audience, behind the scenes, and on stage, everyone who enters the performance space is required to pass through metal detectors.
Questions?
For additional ticket questions or information, contact our Engagement & Patron Services Manager, Kate LaFollette at (937) 535-5443.
Artistic Directors
Neal Gittleman
Artistic Director, Philharmonic
The 2024–2025 season is my 30th on the DPO podium, following founder Paul Katz, Charles Wendelken-Wilson, and Isaiah Jackson. Next year Keitaro Harada takes over. Until then, I’ll be surrounded by fabulous musicians and fabulous music. Favorite pieces by favorite composers. A world premiere and a U.S. premiere. A ballet I’ve conducted more than a hundred times (The Nutcracker) and one I’ve never conducted before (Cinderella). One of my favorite operas (Amahl and the Night Visitors). And my first-ever concert of country music! But what keeps popping into my head again and again as I think about this last year as your conductor? Song titles by my favorite band, The Beatles: “The Long and Winding Road,” “Come Together,” “We Can Work It Out”. And again and again, these lines: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Except for me, it’s “… equal to the music you make.” And of course, “P.S. I Love You!”
Kathleen Clawson,
Artistic Director, Opera; Dr. Ron Anderson and Robb Sloan-Anderson Chair
Kathleen Clawson begins her fifth season as Dayton Opera Artistic Director and Dr. Ron Anderson and Robb Sloan-Anderson Chair. Clawson began directing for the Opera in 2009 and has directed 19 productions since, including serving as dramaturg and stage director for the world premiere of Finding Wright
An acclaimed opera director, she directed The Santa Fe Opera’s world premiere of Shoes for the Santo Niño (2011) and was stage director and dramaturg for their world premiere of UnShakeable (2016).
A mezzo-soprano, Clawson’s credits include soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic, productions with The Santa Fe Opera and Dallas Opera, recording de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo” for Maria Benitez’ Teatro Flamenco tour, and singing “Mother Abbess” in Debby Boone’s international tour of The Sound of Music.
Brandon Ragland
Artistic Director, Ballet; Sponsored by Dr. Troy Tyner and Dr. Ingrid Brown
Brandon Ragland has more than a decade of professional experience as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. He trained in Birmingham, AL, and has a bachelor’s degree in Dance-Arts Administration from Butler University. After graduation, Ragland danced with Alabama Ballet, followed by Louisville Ballet in 2010, spending 13 years as a leading artist. A respected choreographer, Ragland choreographed works for Louisville Ballet, Alabama Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, AROVA Contemporary Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, Sedona Chamber Ballet, and The Perla Ballet. In 2017, Ragland was honored to perform with the Black Iris Project at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the Kennedy Center’s Dance Across America Program. He has received numerous awards, including “Best Artist” in Louisville Magazine and The Lift a Life Foundation’s “Emerging Leader in the Arts Award” from The Fund for the Arts.
Keitaro Harada
Music and Artistic Director Designate, Philharmonic; Sponsored by Barbara O’Hara
Named Music and Artistic Director Designate for Dayton Philharmonic for the 2024–25 season, Keitaro Harada will begin a five-year tenure as Music and Artistic Director with the 2025–26 season. As Music and Artistic Director of the Savannah Philharmonic since the 2020–21 season, Harada has transformed the orchestra and energized its audiences throughout the community with his imaginative programs and charismatic presence.
Harada is a recipient of the 2023 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. In 2024, he was named Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Partner for the Aichi Chamber Orchestra. Harada was Associate Conductor for four years at the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, where he regularly assisted Music Director Louis Langrée and collaborated with James Conlon and Juanjo Mena at the orchestra’s annual May Festival.
Company Dancers
Studio Company Dancers
Xochitl
Sara Beth Austin
Daniela Bennetti
Analiese Capponi
Ryan Norman
Elizabeth Sabol
Amber Huggett
Connor Barak Claire Bergman Nicolas Bierwagen Erin Blair Harrison Broadbent
Tomasin Corrente
Emma Duncan Alyssa Eyster
Hailey Flanagan Jasmine Getz
Katy Gilliam Isaac Jones Patrick Lennon
Tarique Logan Kyan Park
Lukas Pringle Francisco Rivera Belle Urben Catherine Voorhees Jalen Williams
Atienza
New Dancer Photo to come
New Dancer Photo to come
New Dancer Photo to come
New Dancer Photo to come
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Words and Music by Gian Carlo Menotti
Presented under license by G. Schirmer, Inc., copyright owners
December 6, 2024 • Schuster Center
CAST
Amahl ..................................... Aaron Exman
His Mother Mary-Hollis Hundley
King Kaspar Carl Rosenthal†
King Melchior ................... Randell McGee†
King Balthazar John Mburu
The Page Aaron Gouge
The Page’s Apprentice/
Amahl Cover Emerson Benbrahim
Dancers .......................... Nicolay Dorsett*ˆ
............................... and Fabio Tello Muñoz*ˆ
DAYTON OPERA CHORUS
Ron Anderson, Todd Bodey, Michael Cage, Guy Chambers, Carol Chatfield, Charles Cram, Jean Kim, Grace Koogler, Aaron Meece, Mark Melhope, Emily Murphy, Megan Rehberg, Lorraine Rohrer, Cynthia Schindler, Stephanie Voelker
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
PRODUCTION/CREATIVE TEAM
Neal Gittleman, conductor
Kathleen Clawson, director
Jeffrey Powell, chorusmaster
Qarrianne Blayr, choreographerˆ
Inseung Park, scenic designer
Lyn Baudendistel, costume designer
Molly Tiede, lighting designer
Thomas A. Venditelli, wig/makeup designer
Cass Brake, wig/makeup designer
John Lavarnway, props coordinator
Lucy Guillemette, production stage manager
Alex Wolfthal, assistant stage manager
Cory Battey, rehearsal accompanist
Gabrielle Flannery, surtitle caller†
Candace Leyland, wig/makeup assistant
* Dayton Opera debut † Dayton Opera Artist-in-Residence ˆ Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
AUDIENCE SING-ALONG
Belle Haven Unified Chorus
Steven Reeves, director
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Sy Miller & Jill Jackson (arranged by Neal Gittleman)
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, may this be my solemn vow: To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Synopsis
The Countryside Near Bethlehem
Amahl, a poor shepherd boy, plays his pipe outside as his mother calls for him to go to bed. After much delay, Amahl slowly walks into his small home with the aid of his crutch. As he arrives, he urges his mother to come outside to see the large star in the night sky. Fed up with Amahl’s vivid imagination, his mother scolds him, telling him he must stop telling such wild stories. Worried, hungry, and desperate, Amahl’s mother dissolves into tears at the thought that they may have to beg to survive. Amahl comforts her, and they go to bed.
Soon there is a knock at the door. Amahl sneaks out of bed and peeks out the door to see the Three Kings standing at their threshold. Excited, he wakes his mother to tell her, but she refuses to believe him until she sees the visitors for herself. The Three Kings (Balthazar, Kaspar, and Melchior) explain that they are following a great star in search of a wondrous Child. They are tired and ask if they may stop and rest at Amahl’s home. While Amahl’s mother gathers wood for a fire, Amahl asks the Kings about themselves and explains that he was once a shepherd, but his mother had to sell his sheep for money and food.
Amahl’s mother returns and sends Amahl to ask their neighbors to help feed their guests, as she and Amahl have nothing to offer them. The Three Kings describe the Child they seek and the gifts they bring, as Amahl’s mother contemplates her son’s plight. The neighbors bring food and entertain the Kings with a dance. After the crowd has left and the Kings are asleep, Amahl’s mother attempts to steal some of the gold for her son. The Page awakens and catches her.
Amahl wakes to find the Page threatening his mother and tries desperately to defend her. Melchior tells Amahl’s mother to keep the gold as the Child they seek will not need earthly power or wealth to build his kingdom. The mother says she has waited for such a king all her life and asks the Kings to take back the gold. She wishes she could send a gift herself but has nothing to give. Amahl offers the crutch he made himself as a gift for the Child. As he moves forward with the crutch, he realizes he can walk. Amahl joins the Kings on their journey, playing his pipe under the brilliant star.
A Note from the Director
This production marks twenty-six years of joyous collaborations with maestro Neal Gittleman. (He hates it when we call him that, but this Italian word, meaning “teacher,” is a term of respect in opera, and he will just have to allow it this time.) Beginning with my first concert as a soloist with the DPO to a dozen operas as conductor/director team, our creative and personal relationship has developed into one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I dedicate this production to Neal, and all that he has selflessly given to our community, as well as to me. Amahl and the Night Visitors was my introduction to opera. I grew up in a church with a robust music program that produced Amahl almost every year. It was a family affair, with my father singing the role of King Melchior and my mother designing costumes, and it sparked my lifelong love for opera. When I became a professional singer, I sang the role of Mother in a professional production in New York with my then five-year-old son in the audience, seeing his first opera, so my personal connection to the piece runs deep. I think this “first opera” experience is common with Amahl and the Night Visitors. My hope is that this wonderful story of the miracle that occurs when we choose to give selflessly brings great joy to your holiday season.
– Kathleen Clawson, Artistic Director, Dayton Opera & Ron Anderson and Robb Sloan-Anderson Chair
About the Artists
Aaron Exman
Amahl
Aaron Exman is a seventh grader from Beavercreek, Ohio. Exman is so excited to be back in the role of Amahl! He was the understudy for Amahl two years ago with the Dayton Opera, and feels blessed to have the opportunity again. He has also recently played the role of Grover in The Lightning Thief (youth edition) with Dayton Kids Live. Before that, he had small roles within other Dayton Kids Live musicals like Descendants and SpongeBob. He likes to play video games and do taekwondo and swim team. He’s grateful for his
parents because without them he would not be here. He also would like to thank Mrs. Frost (his music teacher) and Kathleen Clawson for helping him achieve this musical goal. Finally, he thanks God for giving him the talent of acting and singing.
Mary-Hollis Hundley
Amahl’s Mother
Mary-Hollis Hundley just finished her first season on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera as a cover of Sister Catherine and Sister Lillian in Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. She kicks off her 2024–25 season as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Orlando Opera, her debut with the company. She then returns to the Helena Symphony
to sing the role of Gertrude in Hansel und Gretel, as well as the role of Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Dayton Opera. She will also join Amadeus Chamber Ensemble as the soprano soloist in a Beethoven Vocal Rarities concert.
Earlier in 2023, she reprised the role of Joella “Jo” Jenner in The Knock by composer Aleksandra Vrebalov and librettist Deborah Brevoort for Cincinnati Opera, a role she sang for its world premiere as a film in 2021 with Glimmerglass Festival. Additional engagements this past season include Freia in Dayton Opera’s Das Rheingold, Alecta in House of Orfeus for Opera Carolina, Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music for Arizona Opera, and Die Aufseherin in Elektra with New York Dramatic Voices.
She has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, George London Foundation, Gerda Lissner Young Artist Institute, and Sarasota Opera Guild.
She holds degrees from Mannes College the New School for Music and the University of Kentucky.
Carl
Rosenthal
King Kaspar
Tenor Carl
Rosenthal is thrilled to return to Dayton Opera as an Artist-in-Residence. In the past two seasons, he has appeared in Tosca (Spoletta), Sweeney Todd (Pirelli), Das Rheingold (Froh), and Amahl and the Night Visitors (King Kaspar). He has joined the Dayton Philharmonic as tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Missa Brevis K. 259, and he has participated in outreach productions of The Elixir of Love (Nemorino), The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), and Who
Wants to be an Opera Star? (Emcee), performed for local schools and libraries. Recent engagements for the tenor include Dido and Aeneas (Aeneas) with MIOpera, Too Many Sopranos (Nelson Deadly) with Cedar Rapids Opera, and Die Fledermaus (Alfred) with Peach State Opera. Other career highlights include La Traviata (Alfredo), Carmen (Don José), Die Zauberflöte (Tamino), Così fan tutte (Ferrando), La Rondine (Ruggero), and Bernstein’s MASS (Celebrant).
In addition to his opera and musical theater work, Rosenthal has found success in the world of orchestral narration—especially in pieces intended for children. He has performed The Composer is Dead, Maestro Stu Saves the Zoo, and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with the Dayton Philharmonic to great acclaim.
Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Rosenthal holds a Master of Music from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University.
is an operatic baritone from St. Louis, Missouri. McGee received his start as a professional opera singer with Union Avenue Opera performing in several opera choruses and performing his first role as the Jailor/Carceriere in Puccini’s Tosca. From there, he has performed with Opera Theatre of St. Louis as the Usher in Rigoletto and Fraternity Brother/Lay About Man/Adult James in the world premiere of Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Terence Blanchard. In 2023, McGee performed with Cincinnati Opera in their production of Puccini’s
Randell McGee King Melchior
Randell McGee
Madame Butterfly, performing as the Imperial Commissioner. McGee has competed in the Met Auditions and received three Encouragement Awards in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Randell McGee has trained as a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera, an Artist-in-Residence with Dayton Opera, and with Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist. Being intrigued with new works, McGee has performed with Opera Fusion: New Works in the workshops of The Righteous, performing the role of Jacob; Bulrusher, performing the role of Logger; and in the Afrofuturist production of Lalovavi McGee has completed his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Webster University. McGee is grateful for the many performance opportunities that God has blessed him with throughout his career and is looking forward to many more performances to come!
John Mburu King Balthazar
John Mburu is a Kenyan-American Bass born in Warwick, Rhode Island. Mburu has performed a variety of genres around the U.S. including opera, oratorio, musical theatre, cantata, concert works, and jazz. He has been praised for his “notable” and “steadfast” portrayal of the Duke of Verona from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette in the 2023 Glimmerglass Festival. Mburu holds a Master of Music degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he studied under Kenneth Shaw and portrayed the roles of Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pope Urban VIII in Galileo Galilei, Pallante in Agrippina, Parson in The Cunning Little Vixen, and
Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Lee University, where he studied voice under Tony Deaton. Mburu is a recent participant in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s Gerdine Young Artist where he sang the role of Curio in Handel’s Julius Caesar and he is currently residing in Minneapolis where he is 2024–25 Resident Artist with Minnesota Opera.
Aaron Gouge
The Page
Aaron Gouge is a vocal performance graduate from Wright State University. Since his time there, he has appeared in multiple performances with Dayton Opera, most recently as an ensemble member and Mr. Fogg in Dayton Opera’s Sweeney Todd. Gouge is excited to return to the role of The Page, in this production of Amahl and the Night Visitors
Emerson Benbrahim
The Page’s Apprentice
Emerson Benbrahim is a 14-year-old home-schooled student with a passion for the performing arts. Enthusiastic about local theater, she loves stepping into new roles on the stage and bringing characters to life in community productions. In addition to the arts, Benbrahim enjoys learning the cello, baking, and reading about the latest celebrity gossip. She is also a fan of live music, attending concerts, and drawing inspiration from the energy of live performances.
Nicolay Dorsett
Dancer
Nicolay Dorsett joined the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company as a JB Fellow in 2020 and was promoted to a company member in 2021. She was born and raised in Sunrise, Florida, and began her dance training at the young age of seven at Elegant School of Modern Dance. She graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in the spring of 2020 with a BA in Health Sciences and a BFA in Modern Dance Performance. During Dorsett’s time at USF, she studied under teachers Bliss Kolmyer, Michael Foley, Andrew Carrol, Andee Scott, and John Parks, and performed in works by renowned choreographers, including Vespers by Ulysses Dove and Prowl by Claudia Lavista. In October of 2019, she was selected to be a part of the USF/ China Exchange Program to participate in the International Creative Dance Seminar at Beijing Normal University. With her passion for dance, Dorsett hopes to continue performing and growing in her artistry.
Fabio Tello Muñoz
Dancer
Fabio Tello Muñoz (from Cuernavaca, Moreles, Mexico) graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Previously, he graduated from the Boarding Arts High School Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California. He sings and dances, and has participated in several productions in the U.S. and Mexico. Among these dance
productions he had the privilege to be part of residencies with the George Mason School of Dance like Variation 10 by Rafael Bonachela, Drive by Kyle Abraham, Sunlight Song, as well as Visions and Miracles by Susan Shields, amongst others ballet companies in California and Virginia. In his hometown of Cuernavaca, Muñoz is the Director and Founder of his own summer intensive focusing on different art forms. He is excited and honored to be part of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for his first season as a professional.
Qarrianne Blayr Choreographer
Qarrianne Blayr (she/her), a Fayetteville, North Carolina native, joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s first company in 2012 after having performed for two seasons in DCDC2. She earned her BFA degree at Howard University, studying under Sherrill Berryman-Johnson, Pat Thomas, Sandra Fortune-Green, Katherine Smith, Akua Kouyate, and Assane Konte. She studied traditional and social Jamaican dance at University of West Indies at Mona, and most recently trained and performed with The National Theater of Ghana’s National Dance Ensemble in Accra, Ghana.
Blayr’s original choreography has been presented by DCDC, DCDC2, University of Dayton, Central State University dance and theater productions, Hill Dance Theater Academy (Pennsylvania), Kazyna Dance Ensemble (Kazakhstan), Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), and the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Blayr serves as Associate Artistic Director of DCDC, and is a Founding
Board Member and Teaching Artist of Dance Grenada, an annual international dance festival and conference. She also serves as Board Member for the Montgomery County Arts Camp, Cultural District, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Jeffrey Powell Chorusmaster
Jeffrey Powell has served as Chorusmaster for the Dayton Opera since 1991. In addition, he was the Music Director for the apprentice program and Main Stage productions for Dayton Opera which include La fille du Régiment, Madama Butterfly, Hansel and Gretel, The Merry Widow, and Die Fledermaus. Before coming to Dayton, Maestro Powell was the Assistant Conductor of The Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Kansas City Symphony. In 1990, he served as Vocal Coach Apprentice with The San Francisco Opera and Assistant Conductor on the Western Opera Theater tour of Lucia di Lammermoor.
Maestro Powell has taught music at Wright State University, Wilberforce University and Central State University, and currently serves as the Director of the Piano Magnet at Stivers School for the Arts and Music Director for Muse Machine.
Inseung Park Scenic Designer
Inseung Park is a scenic designer and painter for live entertainment. He has designed sets for a wide range of live performances, including drama, devised, musicals,
dance, and opera. His scenic design works have been showcased, exhibited, and published in theatre reviews across the country, including Stages Houston, ZACH in Austin, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Profile in Portland, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Theatre Three in Dallas, Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis, The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Provision Theatre in Chicago, Looking Glass in NYC.
Several of his designs have been nominated for prestigious awards, including the Joseph Jefferson Award for The Hiding Place at Provision Theatre and New Hampshire Theatre Award for The Waltz and Mary’s Wedding at The Winnipesaukee Playhouse. His design for The Agitators at Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis was awarded the Most Impressive Theatre Award for Production of a play. The film, Wake, which he designed, was awarded the grand prize in the Kodak competition and screened at numerous renowned international film festivals, including Cannes Film Festival, LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, and Calgary Pan Asian Film Festival.
He holds an MFA in Scene Design from the University of Texas Austin and is an active member of United Scenic Artists, local USA 829 and USITT—United States Institute for Theatre Technology.
Molly Tiede Lighting Designer
Molly Tiede is a professional Lighting Designer, Associate Lighting Designer, Project Manager, and Technical Director specialized in theater, opera, immersive design, new works, and corporate events.
Regional design credits include; Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, Dayton Ballet and Opera, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Colorado University in Boulder, Paramount Theater in NJ, Hettenhausen Center for the Arts in Saint Louis, and The Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City. Associate and Assistant Credits include; Broadway (Walter Kerr), West End London (Vaudeville Theater), The Vineyard Theater, Roundabout Theater, Signature Theater, Labyrinth Theater Company, Gotham Chamber Opera Regional credits include; George Street Playhouse, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Boston Lyric Opera, Alley Theater, Tectonic Theater Project, The Old Globe in San Diego, The Santa Fe Opera, Berkshire Theater Group, Opera Colorado, and Two River Theater.
Tiede is currently the Lighting Director and Associate Lighting Designer for Tectonic Theater Project’s production of Here There Are Blueberries National and International Tour. The production received rave reviews in addition to becoming New York Theatre Workshop’s most financially successful show in their history.
Lyn
Baudendistel
Costume Designer
Lyn Petry
Baudendistel has over 40 years of experience designing and constructing clothing and costumes and is currently celebrating her 10th season as the Costume Director and Resident Designer for the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Opera. Her reputation for innovation and meticulous craftsmanship ensures that each costume piece effectively reflects the artistic vision of each performance.
Baudendistel’s Dayton Ballet portfolio
showcases her versatility, including the design and construction of full-length story ballets such as The Great Gatsby and Sleepy Hollow (choreographed by Karen Russo-Burke); and design for repertoire pieces by multiple choreographers such as Beethoven’s 9th, Don Quixote, Dia De Los Muertos, and Farandole, In Pieces, Isle of the Dead, I’ll Meet You There, Masquerade, No Strings Attached, Prelude and Allegro, Still Water is No Drink, and Zero Impact. Her costume design and build extend into opera with Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Elixir of Love, and The Pearl Fishers (dancers’ costumes).
While Baudendistel has been a lifelong designer and stitcher, her early career and academic training started in the medical arts. In 2009, she made a pivotal shift in her career to follow her passion for creating stories through fabric and textiles—first, with Muse Machine, where she designed and patterned multiple pieces for Into the Woods, Wizard of Oz, Hello Dolly, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia. In 2014, Baudendistel joined the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance and continues collaborating across all disciplines, leveraging her creative design.
THE BELLE HAVEN UNIFIED CHORUS
is the main choral ensemble of Belle Haven Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio. Established in 2019 by its director, Steven Reeves, their primary purpose is to perform at school assemblies, concerts, and various community events in the Dayton area. Their repertoire varies from standard treble choir literature to modern and newly composed contemporary compositions. One of their more notable performances was at the Ohio Statehouse in 2023. In addition, they commissioned the Belle Haven school song “The Bobcat Way/I Believe,” which was written specifically for the ensemble.
Philharmonic Musicians
Greenlaw, Acting Concertmaster1
Philip Enzweiler* Janet George
Oprea Associate Concertmaster2
Na, Acting Assistant Concertmaster3
VIOLIN II
The Peter and Patricia Torvik 2nd Violin Section
Kara Camfield, Acting Principal4
Ann Linn Baer, Acting Assistant Principal
Kirstin
Aurelian
Youjin
Elizabeth Hofeldt
David Goist Mikhail Baranovsky Louis Proske Sean Klopfenstein John Lardinois
VIOLIN I
Scott Moore Gloria Fiore
Maggie Niekamp Nick Naegele* Lynn Rohr*
Yoshiko Kunimitsu Bill Slusser Yein Jin*
Sheridan Currie, Principal5
VIOLA
OBOE AND ENGLISH HORN
Colleen Braid, Assistant Principal Karen Johnson6
Scott Schilling Lori LaMattina Mark D. Reis
Molly Castrucci8 Lucas Song9
Mark Hofeldt Nadine Monchecourt Oleg Babkov
Stephen Ullery Christopher Roberts
James Faulkner Bleda Elibal
Rebecca Andres, Principal11 Jennifer Northcut
Janet van Graas
Eileen Whalen, Principal12
Leslie Dragan Belinda Burge
Jonathan Lee, Principal Christina Coletta, Assistant Principal7
CELLO
Zoë Moskalew
Deborah Taylor, Principal10
Jon Pascolini, Assistant Principal
Donald Compton FLUTE AND PICCOLO
BASS
CLARINET
TROMBONE
HARP
Robyn Dixon Costa
John Kurokawa, Principal13 Rachael Young, Principal14
Kristen Smith15
Aaron Brant, Principal16
Lotti Ropert
Todd Fitter
BASSOON
HORN
Amy Lassiter Sean Vore, Assistant Principal
Charles Pagnard, Principal17 Alan Siebert
TRUMPET
Eric Knorr
Tyler Bentley, Acting Principal18
Richard Begel
Chad Arnow19
Timothy Northcut, Principal20
Gerald Noble, Acting Principal21
Michael LaMattina, Principal22 Davi Martinelli de Lira23
Leslie Stratton, Principal24
New Musician Photo to come
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Joshua Nemith25
* Denotes leave of absence
1 J. Ralph Corbett Chair
2 Huffy Foundation Chair
3 Sherman Standard Register Foundation Chair
4 Jesse Philips Chair
5 F. Dean Schnacke Chair
6 Grace Counts Finch Chair
7 Edward L. Kohnle Chair in Memory of Andra Lunde Padrichelli, Principal Cellist 2003–2018
8 Gilbert and Patricia Templeton Chair
9 Paul and Susanne Weaver Chair
10 Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association/C. David Horine Memorial Chair
11 Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association Chair
12 Catharine French Bieser Chair
13 Rhea Beerman Peal Chair
14 Robert and Elaine Stein Chair
15 David and Lois Gribler Chair
16 Frank M. Tait Memorial Chair
17 John W. Berry Family Chair
18 John Reger Memorial Chair
19 Bill and Wanda Lukens Chair
20 Zachary, Rachel and Natalie Denka Chair
21 Rosenthal Family Chair in Memory of Miriam Rosenthal, In Honor of Donald Donnett, Principal Timpani 1966–2023
22 Miriam Rosenthal Chair
23 Richard A. and Mary T. Whitney Chair
24 Daisy Talbott Green Chair
25 Demirjian Family Chair
Our Members Make the Magic!
Special thanks to all our DPAA Members who keep the classical arts thriving in Dayton with their annual donation.
President’s Circle
DIAMOND ($100,000+)
Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Anderson
Martha DeBold*
Mr. and Mrs. Steven C. Mason
Barbara N. O’Hara
Jesse and Caryl Philips Foundation
Dr. Troy Tyner and Dr. Ingrid Brown
EMERALD ($50,000-$99,999)
John and Kathy Beran
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hone
Mrs. Linda W. Lombard and Mr. Paul W. Marshall
Dale and Karen Medford
Mrs. Betsy B. Whitney
SAPPHIRE ($25,000-$49,999)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Bankston
Mr. Neal Gittleman and Ms. Lisa M. Fry
ELM Foundation
Mrs. Judy D. McCormick
Raymond and Sue Merz
Mr. and Mrs. C. Miles Schmidt
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Schneider
Larry and Abbie Trittschuh
RUBY ($10,000-$24,999)
Anonymous
Dr. Ron Anderson and Mr. Robb Sloan-Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Bettcher
Jim Crosset
Mr. Eugene D. Kurtz and Ms. Janice L. Culver
John and Allyson Danis
Mr. Richard M. DeLon
Dr. Grace L. DeVelbiss
Ms. Jane A. Dunwoodie
Ms. Debra Edelman
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Fernandes
Mr. Michael A. Houser
Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Judith Kreutzer
Mr. and Mrs. William E. Lukens
Barbara and Leib Lurie
Dr. and Mrs. Michael L. Manchester
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth F. May
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. McQuiston
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mikutis
Dr. Thomas G. Olsen and Mrs. Mary Boosalis
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Schwartz
Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Torvik
Mr. Philip G. Wise and Dr. Joe Law
Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Wood
Producing Partners
ENCORE ($5,000-$9,999)
Anonymous
Mrs. Mary L. Arnett
Mr. and Mrs. David S. Battle
Mr. and Mrs. David M. Berry
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bridgman
Dr. Gwen L. Brubaker
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Burkhardt Jr.
Mrs. Catherine Clark
Dr. Ann W. Clutter
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick De Naples
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Deitz
Mr. Donald and Mrs. Janet Grieshop
Mr. and Mrs. Jonas J. Gruenberg
Mr. Charles J. Hardwick
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Herr
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Lovell
Mr. Christopher Mason
Miss Constance A. McKale
Mr. James S. Nathanson
Dr. David H. Ponitz
Kenneth Quinter
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Ratti
Mr. and Mrs. Milton C. Ross
Mr. Matthew J. Scarr
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Schaff
Mr. Thomas F. Skelley and Mrs. Sharon Lindquist-Skelley
Mrs. Cynthia Uhl
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Winger
Kathleen and Joseph Zehenny
OVATION ($2,500-$4,999)
Anonymous (2)
Dr. Nirmala Abraham and Mr. Scotty Blackburn
Mrs. Margy Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Angel
Dan and Vicky Archibald
Mr. and Mrs. Karl C. Ayers
Ann Barr
Mr. Ronald Bernard and Dr. Judith E. Woll M.D.
Dr. Robert L. Brandt, Jr.
Michael and Frieda Brigner
Ms. Kathleen L. Clawson
Mr. Christopher Coombs
Suzanne and Patrick Crippen
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Culp
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Custer
Pat and David Diven
Dr. John C. Duby and Dr. Sara Guerrero-Duby
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Dutton
Doug and Bethany Einstein
Ms. Susan M. Falter
Don and Andrea Fineberg
Ms. Marilyn R. Fischer
Mrs. Carol Graff
Mr. Thomas P. Gratto and Dr. Sharon D. Gratto
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Jennings
Mrs. Leora K. Kline
Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Lamberger
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Lane
Dr. and Mrs. William Lindahl
Ms. Susan B. McCoy and Mr. Allen Kennedy
Pat and David McDonald
Anna and John Monnett
Theodore Nelson and Ixi Chen
Patrick J. Nugent and Mary Kay Rehard
Mr. Mark Olson and Ms. Barbara Furyk-Olson
Dr. C. Daniel and Mrs. Kathy Raisch
Tim Riordan
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Seboldt
Heber and Liz Short
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Sibbing
Mr. Michael Sieveking and Mr. Jeffrey Trzeciak
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Smythe
Lois and Roger Sutherland
Dr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Tokarz
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Tomme
Dr. Byron and Mrs. Theresa Wade
Paul and Susie Weaver
James and Tami Whalen
Hon. and Mrs. William H. Wolff Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Tim S. Wood
Dr. Teresa Zryd
BRAVO ($1,000-$2,499)
Anonymous (3)
Mr. Joshua E. Adams
Dr. and Mrs. Walter W. Adams
The Albert and Nancy Freudenberger Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Anderson
Mr. Patrick Arnold
The Honorable Bill and Karen Beagle
Mr. Zachary J. Beck
Mr. and Mrs. Donald N. Bigler
Ms. Mary R. Bowman
The Brenda and David Jones Memorial Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Byrum
Mr. Joseph Cable
Drs. Alejandro Calvo and Veronica Camacho
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Campbell
Ms. Martha Monica CorradineAltman
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence M. Corson
Mr. Kelly H. Dalton
Susan and Bryan Daly
Ms. Susan DeLuca
William DeVenzio and Linda Short
Mr. C. Bruce Driver
Susan and Robert Ellefson
Mr. Larry Forman
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gardner
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Gaudion
Dr. David and Pamela Griffith
Mr. Michael and Brig. Gen. Mary
Kathryn Haddad
Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Hall
Mr. John C. Halpin and Ms. Dorothy B. Dick
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Harstad
Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Heinrich
Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Herbeck
Holland Family Trust
Mr. Jeffrey Huntington
Dr. Michael A. Jaffe M.D.
Sandi Simmons and Tom Jonak
Ms. Shannon Joyce Neal
Mrs. R. Jean Judge
Ms. Norma Keefer
Michael and Janet Kelly
Dr. and Mrs. Myron R. Kem
Dr. and Mrs. Brian Kent
Dr. R. Alan Kimbrough
Dr. and Mrs. Emil P. Kmetec
Chuck Knickerbocker
Kathryn A. Lamme
Dr. James T. Lehner and Hon.
Peggy Lehner
Cheryl and Franklin Lewis
Robyn Lightcap
Morgan Andrew Taylor*
Dr. Tom Maher
The Margaret and Paul C. Magill Fund*
Drs Jerry Clark and Barry McCorkle
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Meyer
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Bill Perry and JT Rusch
Robert Pohl and Susan Strong
Mr. Todd Press
Mr. and Mrs. Dominick A. Rinaldi
Mr. Joshua Roch and Mrs. Sarah Enterline Roch
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Roedersheimer
Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Routson
Ms. Colleen M. Ryan
Dr. Burton R. Saidel and Mrs. Alice L. Saidel
Sanchez Family
Mr. Richard B. Saphire
Mr. And Mrs. Richard Schaefer
Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Schaeffer
Mrs. Winnie Scholl
Sigma Boule Fund
Charles V. Simms
Mrs. Catherine J. Skardon
Lt. Col and Mrs. Michael H. Taint
Mr. John Tate
Thomas E. And Sharon P. Williamson Fund
Mrs. Mary T. Tymeson
Mr. Michael Tyrchniewicz and Ms. Rachael Courtney
Jeanie Vickroy
Malte and Pan Von Matthiessen
Dr. and Mrs. Andreas M. Walchner
Andrew and Julie Wallner
Jud and Julie Wallner Fund
Mark White
Ms. Katherine Wiedeman
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Winch
Mr. and Mrs. Brian W. Woodruff
Mr. and Mrs. David Wrazen
Dr. Daniel L. Zehringer
Dr. David Zelmon and Dr. Mojgan Samardar
Friends
FELLOW ($750-$999)
Anonymous
Shirley Ark
Drs. Charles and Mary Bane
Mr. Charles W. Bradford
Carla Cameron
Mrs. Rebecca Dianis
Dr. Margaret M. Dunn and Dr. William A. Spohn
Lt. Col. Frank and Diane Gentner, USAF Ret.
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas N. Goetz
Mr. Anthony Haugrud
Jeremy Holtgrave
Charles and Karen Kronbach
Kenji and Misao Kurokawa
Larry Mullins
Les and Dianne Niemi
Ms. Ellen Noble
Jeaunita Ìfewándé Château Olówè
Greg and Michele Palmer
Mr. Harold Poppe and Mr. Dale Schmidt
Mr. William C. Quinn
Mary Yerina and Bob Redfield
Beverly and Bradley Smith
Rick and Tawnya Stover
Phyllis Strayer
Kevin and Micki Torres
Nancy and John Woeste
Dr. Roberts and Mrs. Lynn Wood
Dr. Virginia C. Wood
Carol Jean Yegerlehner Give Today
Corporate and Foundation Partners
We thank our corporate and foundation partners for their support of DPAA’s mission, programs, and artists.
IMPRESARIO
AES Ohio Foundation
The Charles D. Berry Foundation
Virginia W. Kettering Foundation
Schiewetz Foundation
Harry A. Toulmin, Jr. and Virginia B. Toulmin Fund of The Dayton Foundation
MAESTRO
Kettering Health
VIRTUOSO
Dayton Freight
The Mary H. Kittredge Fund of The Dayton Foundation
Bill and Jackie Lockwood Fund to Support Opera
LEGATO
AES Ohio
The Berry Family Foundation
Cox First Media
Dayton Aerospace
Marriott University of Dayton
Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts
The Shubert Foundation
The Troy Foundation
The Nick and Edna Weller Charities, Inc.
CONCERTO
10 Wilmington Place
Arts Consulting Group
Bob Ross Auto Group
The Charles F. Kettering Foundation
Discover Classical 88.1 WDPR/89.1 WUSO/89.9 WDPG
The Kettering Family Foundation
iHeartMedia
Mathile Family Foundation
ARIA
The Iddings Foundation
Victory Wholesale Group
SONATA
The Dayton Hydraulic Co.
Enterprise Roofing
Harlamert Foundation
Heidelberg Distributing Company
Johnson Investment Counsel
The Kuntz Foundation
Levin Family Foundation
LION
Nova Creative
NPS Cares Foundation
PNC
INTERMEZZO
Coolidge Wall
Sam Levin Foundation
Omega Baptist Church
Pickrel, Schaeffer, and Ebeling
OVERTURE
Barnes Dennig
Houser Asphalt and Concrete
Requarth Lumber Company
Voss Auto Network
ADDITIONAL MAJOR SUPPORT BY:
Culture Works
Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District
National Endowment for the Arts
Ohio Arts Council
Board of Trustees and Staff
OFFICERS
Joseph Zehenny, Chair
Patricia McDonald, Vice Chair
Dr. Ed Tomme, Chair Emeritus
Tom Burkhardt, Treasurer
Timothy Riordan, Assistant Treasurer
Rev. Joshua Ward, Secretary
Rodney Veal, Assistant Secretary
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Ron Anderson
Libby Ballengee
Dr. Zachary Beck
Ashley Bethard
Jim Butler
Christopher Coombs
Allyson Danis
Courtney Ditmer
Dr. Samuel Dorf
Deborah Gross
Col. Mary-Kathryn Haddad
Michael Howard
Xavier Johnson
Dr. G. Scott Jones
Robyn Lightcap
Patrick Martin
Peggie McQuiston
Shannon Joyce Neal
Barbara O’Hara
Todd Press
Burt Saidel
Dori Spaulding
John Tate
Rick Thie
Abbie Trittschuh
Katie Wahl
Dr. Daniel Zehringer
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS EMERITUS
Thomas Bankston, Opera
ADMINISTRATION
Patrick J. Nugent, President and CEO
Michael Sieveking, Managing Director
Teri Warwick, Chief Financial Officer
Sue Martin, Accounting Manager
ARTISTIC
Kathleen Clawson, Artistic Director, Opera
Neal Gittleman, Artistic Director and Conductor, Philharmonic
Brandon Ragland, Artistic Director, Ballet
Patrick Reynolds, Associate Conductor, Philharmonic; Conductor, Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Steven Hankle, Director, Philharmonic Chorus
Carolyn Sweezy, Manager, Philharmonic Chorus
Maureen Hickey Haitch, Conductor, Philharmonic Youth Strings
Michelle Mastin, Conductor, Philharmonic Junior Strings
Jeffrey Powell, Chorus Master, Opera Chorus
Sharon Neumeister, Company Teacher and Rehearsal Assistant
Rachel Cahayla Wynne, Rehearsal Director and Dayton Ballet Studio Company Manager
DEVELOPMENT
Bill Perry, Vice President for Philanthropy
Lynnette Ivey, Director of Institutional Giving
Allie Haines, Membership Manager
Anne O’Hara, Development Operations Manager
LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Jeaunita Ìféwándé Château Olówè, Vice President for Learning and Community Engagement
Jacqueline Griffin, Learning Programs Manager
Melissa McCoy, Engagement Programs Manager
Megan Forney, Dayton Ballet School Education Manager; Co-Director of Dayton Ballet School Ensemble
Gabrielle Sharp, Co-Director of Dayton Ballet School Ensemble
Elizabeth Sabol, Ballet School Registrar
Vicky Archibald, Ballet School Receptionist
MARKETING
Brittany Laughlin, Vice President for Marketing and Audience Development
Olivia Budde, Marketing Coordinator
James Mikolajewski, Marketing and Patron Acquisition Manager
Kate LaFollette, Engagement and Patron Services Manager
OPERATIONS
Theodore Nelson, Vice President for Operations and Artistic Planning
Milena Treer, Director of Production
Tim Crommes, Company Manager
Patrick Keough, Technical Director
Sean Vore, Orchestra Personnel Manager
Lyn Baudendistel, Wardrobe Supervisor
Eric Knorr, Orchestra Librarian
Kelly DeLisle, Resident Stage Manager
Lloyd Bryant, Recording Engineer
The stagehands of IATSE Local 66
The wardrobe members of IATSE Local 886
BILL AND JACKIE LOCKWOOD FUND TO SUPPORT OPERA
THE MARY H. KITTREDGE FUND OF THE DAYTON FOUNDATION
HARRY A. TOULMIN JR. AND VIRGINIA B. TOULMIN FUND OF THE DAYTON FOUNDATION