COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Symphony Orchestra is set to welcome a new CEO this month as it continues its plans for a new music center, a $275 million project now facing a revised timeline due to changes in leadership.
Originally announced in February 2024, the 205,000-square-foot Center of Music Innovation and Education is slated to be built on vacant city-owned land south of COSI. The initial timeline required fundraising the full $275 million by June 2025, with construction beginning this fall and completion expected in 2028.
However, the departure of former executive director Denise Rehg in August and the ongoing search for a new leader, along with a vacancy in the chief development officer position, led to a reassessment of the timeline. Subsequently, the city granted a two-year fundraising extension, moving the deadline to June 2027.
“The shift in leadership has significantly influenced the timeline,” said Erin Flynn, the orchestra’s new chief development officer. “The board of trustees has been patient, waiting for new leadership to drive the project forward.”
To aid in advancing the project, the orchestra announced on June 9 that Maureen O’Brien will take over as the new chief executive officer. O’Brien, who previously served as executive vice president for institutional advancement at the New World Symphony in Miami, is set to join the organization later this month.
Flynn commended O’Brien’s appointment, noting her achievements in Miami, which include completing a $150 million capital campaign and leading a 30-member team managing a $12 million annual fund.
“She has the expertise to engage with the central Ohio community and navigate the fundraising landscape,” Flynn said. “We are strategically prepared to proceed, and we’ll establish the next steps once Maureen arrives.”
Daniel Walshaw, the orchestra’s chief operating officer and interim executive director, also supported O’Brien’s nomination.
“She has a remarkable history with philanthropic capital projects and will help create a cultural icon for our city,” Walshaw said, emphasizing that the extended fundraising timeline was “entirely justified” given the leadership changes.
“The construction timeline has naturally shifted in response to the organizational changes,” Walshaw said. “We are experiencing exciting leadership transitions and envision creating a significant new cultural landmark for the city.”
Upon completion, the center will feature a 1,600-seat main performance hall and nine additional multi-use performance and event spaces. Although this project means the orchestra will leave its longtime home at the nearly 100-year-old Ohio Theatre, Walshaw noted the new building will serve other cultural institutions and become a community hub.
Walshaw highlighted the orchestra’s recent growth, including increased classical concert attendance and educational programs reaching over 65,000 children annually. “The orchestra is a significant cultural asset to our community,” he said.
“The community’s growth is remarkable, and as Columbus expands, so does its arts and culture,” Walshaw added. “We’re creating a new visual landmark that will transform the city’s skyline, a historic moment that will be celebrated when we illuminate the concert hall for the first time.”