News

It is with deep sorrow that the Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts mourn the passing of Robert “Bob” Bell, beloved colleague, visionary leader, master timpanist, and the heart and soul of our institution for nearly 70 years.

“Bob was the heart and soul of the Toledo Symphony for most of its existence and for most of his life,” shares TAPA Board Chair Marna Ramnath. “It is safe to say that his dedication to the music, the musicians, and the community never wavered. The gift of his life plays on in the orchestra that he loved.”

The Toledo Symphony has announced Matthew Shirey, Northwood Local Schools Band Director, as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Music Educator Award. This is the sixth consecutive year the TSO has honored current, full-time, K-12 music educators who teach music in public and private schools in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region. 

The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) proudly anticipates the Phase 1 opening of the Toledo Center for Live Arts, a dynamic new hub for arts education and collaboration on Heatherdowns Boulevard, adjacent to the Stranahan Theater. This moment marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for TAPA and its commitment to enriching the cultural fabric of the region.

TAPA is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Whittaker as its new Vice President of Finance. Jessica brings a wealth of experience in financial governance, strategic planning, and operational transformation to the organization. Her arrival marks an exciting new chapter for TAPA as it continues its vision to bring the community together through the performing arts.

Toledo Ballet announces the hiring of professional dancer Liza van Heerden as a member of Toledo Ballet faculty and Principal Dancer for Toledo Ballet productions. 

“Liza’s arrival is the beginning of our dream to create a small professional company here at Toledo Ballet,” says Eric Otto, Artistic Director and Head of Curriculum at Toledo Ballet.

Toledo Ballet has spread Christmas cheer for over 80 years with its top-tier production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Eric Otto, the ballet’s artistic director, wants to establish a new tradition: spreading Halloween fear.

“I'd like to start a new holiday family tradition here in Toledo, where people can get excited about Halloween and go and see a Halloween show and a big Halloween ballet,” Otto said.

The Wolfe Family Foundation has established a new endowment to support the Toledo Symphony - the Frederic D. Wolfe Endowment Fund. This new $1M endowment was created with a $500,000 donation from the Wolfe Family Charitable Foundation and a $500,000 gift from the estate of Frederic “Fritz” Wolfe.

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Local 15-286 of the American Federation of Musicians are pleased to announce the successful ratification of a groundbreaking five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that marks a new era for the organization and its musicians.

The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts announced the appointment of Marna Ramnath as the new Board Chair and Richard Karcher as the Vice Chair, effective July 1, 2024. 

The Toledo Jazz Orchestra (TJO) and Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) have announced a formal merger, effective immediately. The two organizations have been working under a strategic partnership since 2022. In this new agreement, TJO officially joins TAPA as its third musical member. Alain Trudel will continue to serve as TJO Artistic Director, as he has for the past two seasons.