“The Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet Association will merge … to create the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts or TAPA,” writes Wayne F. Anthony in Tuesday’s (9/18) Toledo Blade (Ohio). “The new partnership will create an umbrella organization under which the two will serve as equal partners in a three-prong relationship that will also include an education component for the community. The new non-profit will come into existence on Jan. 1, 2019.… The six staff members of the ballet will move to the [symphony’s] offices … simplifying operations and maximizing resources and outreach potential. Zak Vassar, president & CEO of the symphony, will become the CEO of the combined organization. The ballet has operated for several months without an executive director. Lisa Mayer will continue in her role as the artistic director of the ballet, while Alain Trudel will continue as music director of the symphony…. Vassar also wanted to be very clear on one point: ‘This is a visionary merger; this is not a “we have to move.” We’re doing this because both organizations are strong and vibrant. We feel it will give us both a greater ability to do fantastic things artistically.’ ”
Posted September 19, 2018
In photo: At the event announcing the merger of the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet, Lisa Mayer-Lang, artistic director of the Toledo Ballet, and Alain Trudel, music director of the Toledo Symphony. Photo courtesy of the Toledo Symphony
