Musicians of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra issued a formal statement on March 25, 2026 expressing sharp disappointment following the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance’s announcement of programming cuts to the 2026-27 season. The statement was also supported by the American Federation of Musicians, the musicians’ union representing the orchestra.

In the statement, orchestra members described the announcement as landing “like a gut punch to the professional artists who make Dayton’s cultural life possible.” The musicians called the reductions “a devastating blow to our livelihoods” and urged the DPAA to seek alternatives: “We want creativity from the DPAA, not cuts.” The statement characterized the Dayton Philharmonic as “a cultural cornerstone” of the region deserving professional treatment and institutional support.

The DPAA oversees the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Ballet under the artistic leadership of Music and Artistic Director Keitaro Harada. The organization had announced its 2026-27 season days earlier, which includes a full-company production of West Side Story and a season closing run of Puccini’s La bohème. No management response to the musicians’ statement was included in the initial reporting. The DPAA has not publicly specified which programs were reduced in the restructuring.

Source: OperaWire