On Monday, June 8, a press release from the Pennsylvania Academy of Music announced the addition of seven new members to its Board of Trustees. What was not mentioned was then Vice Chairman Ely Gonick had tendered his resignation from the board the prior Friday and Chairman Paul Ware resigned a day later.
Ware had led the Academy during the planning and decision process and, when the fundraising fell more than ten million dollars short, had generously arranged to guarantee loans to make up most of the deficit.
Thus, when the ability to repay construction loans came into question, Ware was in the conflicted situation of serving as the Chair of the Board and as a major creditor.
At the emergency meeting on Monday, the quorum of directors voted to return Robert Faulk, M. D., who had preceded Ware as Chairman, to the position.
Although the By Laws called for a minimum of 15 trustees, the number had shrunk to nine. Thus there was a pressing need to add seven prominent members of the Lancaster community.
The newly appointed trustees are: Jon Tryon, Esquire; Arthur Mann Sr.; Mary Burton; John Thorn; Mark Rast M.D; Terry Vance Field; and Douglas Weidman.
Fran Veri, Co-Artistic Founder and Academic Dean, was elected Vice Chair.
In an Academy press release of late Wednesday afternoon, Academy president Michael Jamanis acknowledges the contribution of Ware and Gonick: “They have positively led us through construction and opening of the new building and we thank them for their participation in the musical life of the Academy.”
The release goes on to say “Recently announced new members of the board of Trustees and Advisory Council brings extensive knowledge and backgrounds in business and education…This eliminates the need for the Academy to hire outside consultant, Silvia Strobel, as previously announced.”
A week earlier, PAM had announced the engagement of Sylvia I. Strobel, as a consultant. She was given extraordinary powers and was to report only to Ware as Chair.
The Trustees also appointed Richard E. Field as Director of International Marketing. He will serve as a volunteer. A graduate of McCaskey High School, Field is a real estate developer residing in Budapest, Hungary who continues to have close ties to Lancaster. He had provided marketing assistance to PAM in past years and produced the video loop of a virtual walk, both around and through the planned building. (Full Disclosure: Richard Field is the son of NewsLanc publisher Robert Field.) Field’s appointment suggests an interest on the part of the Trustees in evolving PAM into an international high school for talented young musicians.
According to the release, today’s “announcement comes on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Academy, amidst the backdrop of the Academy’s Founders Day celebration on June 11 highlighted by a concert showcasing outstanding students and alumni who have been an important part of the school’s history and mission.”
