CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Symphony executive director Paul Helfrich will leave in mid-October to take the top administrative job at the Dayton Philharmonic in Ohio.

After more than 12 years here, Helfrich will become president of the Dayton Philharmonic, an orchestra that operates on an annual budget of $5 million and plays about 70 concerts annually, Helfrich said. The West Virginia orchestra has an annual budget of slightly more than $3 million and gives roughly 50 concerts.

Helfrich has run day-to-day operations here during a period when the orchestra launched a pops series and a Saturday morning family series, hired Grant Cooper as artistic director, and moved into a new home in the Clay Center. With the orchestra's $8 million endowment campaign nearly complete, and the accumulated debt of the first few Clay Center seasons paid off, the time is ripe to take on a new challenge, Helfrich said.

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Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008 - West Virginia Symphony executive director Paul Helfrich announced he was leaving in mid-October to take the top administrative job at the Dayton Philharmonic in Ohio.

Musicians in Dayton make $119 per rehearsal or performance, compared to $90 here, Helfrich said. The Dayton orchestra plays in a new hall that opened four months before the Clay Center. The new hall is also home to the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Opera, and the orchestra also plays for both groups.

Heflrich said he was privileged to work with two outstanding conductors here - Thomas Conlin was the first - and two fine board presidents, Pat Bond and the late John McClaugherty, Helfrich said.

In Dayton, Helfrich replaces Curt Long, who left after 14 years to take a similar position with the Alabama Symphony. Helfrich said he would get a significant increase from the $95,000 salary he makes here.

Heflrich graduated from Indiana University as a tuba-playing performance major, then stayed and earned a second degree in arts administration.

"Paul Helfrich is a very talented individual who works quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes to get things done," Bond said. "His unique skill set includes an ability to understand and problem-solve in both the artistic and business sides of the symphony."

Bond said he would appoint a search committee that will look for a successor. He said he doesn't know whether he'll have to hire an interim successor in the meantime. Helfrich's last day is Oct. 17.

"Paul has always treated the musicians fairly and respectfully, said bass player and Dayton resident Victor Dome, chairman of the orchestra's Players' Committee here and an occasional substitute with the Dayton orchestra. "As someone who has been seated on the other side of the negotiating table .... I have always found him to be willing to listen to the musicians ... and understand our point of view. I wish him continued success as he moves to my hometown - the Dayton Philharmonic has chosen wisely!"

Reach Bob Schwarz at bobschw...@wvgazette.com">bobschw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Symphony executive director Paul Helfrich will leave in mid-October to take the top administrative job at the Dayton Philharmonic in Ohio.

After more than 12 years here, Helfrich will become president of the Dayton Philharmonic, an orchestra that operates on an annual budget of $5 million and plays about 70 concerts annually, Helfrich said. The West Virginia orchestra has an annual budget of slightly more than $3 million and gives roughly 50 concerts.

Helfrich has run day-to-day operations here during a period when the orchestra launched a pops series and a Saturday morning family series, hired Grant Cooper as artistic director, and moved into a new home in the Clay Center. With the orchestra's $8 million endowment campaign nearly complete, and the accumulated debt of the first few Clay Center seasons paid off, the time is ripe to take on a new challenge, Helfrich said.

"When I came to the [orchestra] from the Erie Philharmonic, I was attracted by the opportunity to work with a larger orchestra with a greater scope of program," Helfrich said. "It is that same attraction that is now taking me to Dayton."

Musicians in Dayton make $119 per rehearsal or performance, compared to $90 here, Helfrich said. The Dayton orchestra plays in a new hall that opened four months before the Clay Center. The new hall is also home to the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Opera, and the orchestra also plays for both groups.

Heflrich said he was privileged to work with two outstanding conductors here - Thomas Conlin was the first - and two fine board presidents, Pat Bond and the late John McClaugherty, Helfrich said.

In Dayton, Helfrich replaces Curt Long, who left after 14 years to take a similar position with the Alabama Symphony. Helfrich said he would get a significant increase from the $95,000 salary he makes here.

Heflrich graduated from Indiana University as a tuba-playing performance major, then stayed and earned a second degree in arts administration.

"Paul Helfrich is a very talented individual who works quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes to get things done," Bond said. "His unique skill set includes an ability to understand and problem-solve in both the artistic and business sides of the symphony."

Bond said he would appoint a search committee that will look for a successor. He said he doesn't know whether he'll have to hire an interim successor in the meantime. Helfrich's last day is Oct. 17.

"Paul has always treated the musicians fairly and respectfully, said bass player and Dayton resident Victor Dome, chairman of the orchestra's Players' Committee here and an occasional substitute with the Dayton orchestra. "As someone who has been seated on the other side of the negotiating table .... I have always found him to be willing to listen to the musicians ... and understand our point of view. I wish him continued success as he moves to my hometown - the Dayton Philharmonic has chosen wisely!"

Reach Bob Schwarz at bobschw...@wvgazette.com">bobschw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.