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Youth symphony co-director strikes chord in the city

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 12:56 AM Monday, March 22, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Nobody said Deborah Dornon had to organize a “hillbilly” dinner theater, but she did anyway.

That’s just one thing Dornon did for the First United Methodist Church in Middletown, where she is a member, and it’s just one of many things this well-traveled woman has done for the community.

Dornon, who returned to Middletown in 2002 after living in Nepal for 12 years, is especially active in music. She is the co-director of the Middletown Youth Symphony and is the treasurer of the Middie Music Boosters.

She became the co-director, with Lucy Firlie Ginther, of the youth orchestra last year, and is in the midst of preparing the orchestra for its spring concert April 27.

“We split the conductor duties, and I really enjoy working with the kids,” Dornon said. She had prior experience with the group, having played clarinet with them in the mid-70s under founder James Veith.

“I grew up with a lot of music. I went to First United Methodist Church and I got into clarinet playing, and I wanted to be a teacher,” said Dornon, who earned a music education degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea.

As treasurer of the Middie Music Boosters, she stepped into a delicate situation after a predecessor, Stephen Santos, was sentenced to prison for stealing from the organization.

“That was a challenge to pick up the pieces and get that group on track,” Dornon said.

Whatever musical capacity Dornon tackles, people appreciate her efforts. Mary Ellen Clinard, the director of worship at First United Methodist Church, pointed to Dornon’s efforts to stage “Who Done Stole the Bride?”

“Her most recent best idea was the dinner theater the youth choir did ... it was a hillbilly mystery dinner theater. We served people chicken and told them it was squirrel. She did it and it was great. Everybody had a great time,” Clinard said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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