The Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association completed its acquisition of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra on September 19, 2025, ending months of negotiations over the future of the nearly century-old ensemble. The orchestra, which traces its roots to 1926, had been splitting concerts between the DeYor Performing Arts Center and Stambaugh Auditorium since the 2021-2022 season.

Along with the acquisition, Stambaugh announced the appointment of Erik Ochsner as the YSO’s new music director. Ochsner, a conductor based in New York City, has appeared with the Youngstown Symphony nine times as a guest conductor. He is known for film-with-live-orchestra performances and has conducted ensembles across six continents. The appointment fills a vacancy left by Sergey Bogza, who resigned in November 2024 just four months after being hired. The orchestra had been operating with guest conductors since the passing of longtime music director Randall Craig Fleischer in August 2020.

Stambaugh also reached an agreement with the American Federation of Musicians Local 86-242 to extend the musicians’ contract through August 2027. The orchestra’s 2025-2026 season, shortened due to the late start, is scheduled to open with a holiday concert on December 22 in Stambaugh’s Concert Hall. For the 2026-2027 season, the YSO plans to present concerts at both Stambaugh Auditorium and the DeYor Performing Arts Center.

Source: Youngstown Symphony Orchestra