News

Live Arts Toledo announced today the appointment of Michael Downing as Interim Vice President of Development, effective immediately. A Toledo native with nearly four decades of nonprofit fundraising experience, Downing brings deep expertise in fundraising, marketing, and strategic leadership to the organization. He succeeds Brett Loney, who served as Vice President of Development for seven seasons.

“Michael Downing is one of the most respected fundraising professionals in our community,” said Zak Vassar, President & CEO of Live Arts Toledo. “Michael is also one of Brett Loney’s foremost mentors, which provides continuity as we begin a search for a permanent Vice President of Development. Live Arts Toledo is in excellent hands.”

Live Arts Toledo, in partnership with Starlite Theater Group, announces An Evening with Dave Eggers, a special literary event taking place June 11, 2026 at the historic Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. This one-night event marks the national tour launch of internationally acclaimed author Dave Eggers and celebrates the release of his highly anticipated new novel, Contrapposto (publishing June 9). Known for his expansive storytelling and cultural impact, Eggers will offer Toledo audiences a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of today’s most influential literary voices at the start of a major national tour.

Live Arts Toledo announces its 2026–2027 season, featuring a wide range of performances from the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Ballet, and Toledo Jazz Orchestra. Subscriptions are now on sale, with subscribers receiving benefits including priority seating, flexible exchanges, and access to the lowest available prices through June 15.

Framed as “a season of momentum,” the 2026–2027 lineup reflects continued growth across the organization, anchored by performances at The Peristyle, The Valentine Theatre, The Stranahan Theater, and the Toledo Center for Live Arts.

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce the extension of Music Director Alain Trudel’s contract. This new agreement will carry Trudel through the 2028/2029 season, marking over a decade of artistic leadership with the organization. 

Since joining the TSO as Music Director Designate in the 2017/2018 season and officially assuming the role in 2018, Trudel has become a defining artistic voice for the orchestra and a beloved presence throughout the Toledo community. Over the course of his tenure, he has conducted hundreds of performances, shaped ambitious and innovative programming, and deepened the orchestra’s connection to audiences across the region. 

The Toledo Symphony has announced Michelle Keaster, Monclova Christian Academy music teacher, as the recipient of the 2025-26 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award. This is the seventh consecutive year the TSO has honored current, full-time, Kindergarten through 12th grade music educators who teach music in public and private schools in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region.

Through the Outstanding Music Educator Award, the Toledo Symphony recognizes the vital role music teachers play in the lives of the students they teach. Music teachers introduce, instill, and cultivate a love of music that surpasses the time spent in the classroom. They lay the foundation for a lifetime of appreciation that serves to perpetuate these artforms. 

Families are invited to experience the magic of live orchestral music as the whimsical stories of Dr. Seuss leap from the page to the stage in Dr. Seuss and The Symphony, presented as part of The Andersons Inc. Charitable Foundation Family Series by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 PM in the Peristyle Theater at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Designed especially for young audiences and their families, this one-hour concert introduces children to the joy of live music through three narrated storybooks performed alongside a full orchestra. Featured works include “The Symphony Goes to the Zoo,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and “The Sneetches,” creating a playful and engaging first concert experience for audiences of all ages.