DPO History

From the very beginning of its rich history, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra has existed and thrived on the generosity of patrons, who have offered financial support to further the mission of the institution.

A Letter to the Community

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra touches the lives of more people than any other performing arts organization in the Miami Valley. In short, we’re a better city for having the DPO. That’s why we all take special pride in its achievements under Neal Gittleman’s brilliant, inclusive leadership.

With the opening of the Schuster Center, the orchestra has a hall destined to inspire new levels of virtuosity. Orchestrate Greatness: The Campaign for the Dayton Philharmonic offers us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show what a first-rate orchestra can mean to Dayton. Join us. By supporting this campaign, you lift the DPO’s creative spirit and sustain its fiscal health for generations to come. Not all of us can play an instrument or conduct a symphony. But we can be philanthropic virtuosos and ensure that the music resonating through the magnificent Schuster Center always stirs our souls and delights our hearts.

J. Colby King
Louise H. Mason
Doris H. Ponitz
William J. Schneider
Betsy B. Whitney
Joseph A. Zehenny
Campaign Executive Committee

Over the years, scores of donors have made lasting commitments to support the operations of the Orchestra with an annual gift. By endowing the chair of a principal musician or a favorite education program, many have chosen to make a more lasting commitment.

As we sit on the threshold of our next 70 years, the trustees of the Dayton Philharmonic have mounted what may be the most important fundraising effort in its history – Orchestrate Greatness: The Campaign for the Dayton Philharmonic. This effort to build the Orchestra’s endowment fund by $9 million will ensure the excellence of this respected institution for the
next 70 years...and beyond.

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