Classical notes: Musical Chairs

Symphony fans have noticed that there’s a bit of musical chairs going on in the ranks of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra is advertising auditions for its principal oboe and principal viola posts on its Web site. That's because former principal oboist Liang Wang, 26, served just a brief tenure in Cincinnati before he was lured away to become principal oboe of the New York Philharmonic. (You can hear him play on his site at www.myspace.com.) Until a successor is chosen, Shea Scruggs is serving a one-year appointment as acting principal oboe.

And longtime principal violist Marna Street will become principal emeritus of the orchestra’s viola section next September. The move, she says, will allow her to devote more of her focus to two of her other passions – teaching and creative writing – while continuing to perform with the orchestra.

The flute section also has some changes. Jasmine Choi has a one-year appointment as acting associate principal flute, while Kyril Magg is now second flute. And new players beginning their first season are principal timpanist, Patrick Schleker, and principal horn Elizabeth Freimuth.

Principal oboe auditions are Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 30-31, and principal viola auditions are scheduled for Nov. 6-7.

Artist change: The Cincinnati Symphony announced this week that violinist Thomas Zehetmair has cancelled his Jan. 12-13 appearances for personal reasons. He will be replaced by Isabelle van Kuelen in the Berg Violin Concerto, "To the Memory of an Angel." Van Kuelen performed the United States premiere of Erkki-Sven Tuur’s Violin Concerto with the orchestra in Paavo Järvi’s first season as music director. 513-381-3300, www.cincinnatisymphony.org.

Dayton Opera announces campaign: As it approaches its 50th anniversary, Dayton Opera has announced its largest fundraising campaign in the company’s history.

Dayton Opera, which opened its 46th season last weekend with a production of "Madame Butterfly" designed by acclaimed Japanese artist Jun Kaneko, announced it has already raised $2.4 million toward a $3 million goal. Leadership gifts include $1 million from the Bertram C. Blanke & Lovetta R. Blanke Fund.

The Gold Standard Capital and Endowment Campaign will provide annual funding to support opera production, and will also boost the company’s endowment, which currently stands at $2 million. Dayton Opera’s operating budget this season is nearly $2.1 million.

"This campaign will enable Dayton Opera to continue to grow as a company and help us to continue raising the bar on the quality of artistic productions in Dayton," says Thomas Bankston, general and artistic director and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.