Arts&Life

opera?

Ethan Davidson’
s new challenge as board 
chair meshes with his personal interests. 

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Leading MOT

E

than Davidson, recently elect-
ed chairman of the Michigan 
Opera Theatre (MOT) Board of 
Directors and Trustees, got his intro-
duction to opera from David DiChiera, 
MOT founder and independent com-
poser.
As a teen, Davidson was friendly with 
DiChiera’
s daughters and often visited 
their home, where music seemed almost 
ever-present. The sounds came either 
from classical recordings or DiChiera’
s 
own talents at the piano.
Davidson, who went on to build 
his own career as a touring folk-rock 
singer/songwriter recording 10 albums, 
enjoyed listening to all kinds of music 
and even experimented with opera for 
a time. 
At the University of Michigan, while 
earning a degree in English literature, 
Davidson had a jazz band and played 
bass as they performed adaptations from 
operas. 
“I think it’
s going to be a lot of fun 
being MOT chairman,
” says Davidson 
of Birmingham 
, director and Grants 
Committee chair of the William 
Davidson Foundation, a private family 
foundation dedicated to advancing the 
economic, cultural and civic vitality 
of Southeast Michigan, Israel and the 
Jewish community. 
“It’
s an exciting opportunity to take 
on a new challenge, but it’
s also exciting 
on a personal level because I was always so 
friendly with David DiChiera and his fam-
ily.
”
Davidson, also on the Board of Trustees 
for the Motown Museum, joined the MOT 
board after he stopped touring in 2006 to 
help establish his late father’
s foundation. He 
wanted to get a more complete experience in 
philanthropy by getting involved with local 
organizations. Music-centered initiatives fit 
in with his deep personal interests.
Davidson succeeds Rick Williams, who 
served as MOT chairman for 17 years. The 
transition will involve a restructuring of the 
board.
Three vice-chairs include JoAnn Danto, 
former dance professor and soloist with 
the Joffrey Ballet; Peter Oleksiak, senior 

vice president and CFO at DTE Energy; 
and Ankur Rungta, co-founder and part-
ner at Penlife Media. Treasurer is Enrico 
Digirolamo, chairman of Good Travel 
Software. Secretary is Gene P
. Bowen, 
co-chairperson of Business Practice Group, 
Bodman PLC.

INTO THE FUTURE
“MOT restructured governance of the orga-
nization around a model that could have 
people sharing responsibilities,
” Davidson 
says. “That’
s going to work because the peo-
ple involved have extensive knowledge that 
can be effective.
”
Davidson has been doing research into 
what successful opera companies are doing 
that might also be effective for MOT. 
“I’
ve been to the Metropolitan Opera in 
New York and the San Francisco Opera, 

so I’
m making my rounds,
” he says. “I’
m 
interested in the opera companies that have 
been on the cutting edge. 
“I’
m going to the Lyric Opera of Chicago 
in a few weeks and will see performances 
and talk to the leadership. I’
ve talked to 
people at Opera Columbus, which has 
brought performances to young adults in 
spaces that are not traditional opera spaces. 
“I also hear a lot of good things are hap-
pening in St. Louis, so I hope to make con-
tact with leadership there and in Dallas.
”
As with arts organizations in general, 
there are explorations of ways to increase 
funding as well as audience interest. 
Davidson is looking into sources of revenue 
that go beyond philanthropic and corporate 
funding.
“
At the William Davidson Foundation, 
we really feel that to have a world-class 
city, you have to have world-class assets,
” 
Davidson says. “If you don’
t have cultural 
vitality, it makes it less attractive to entre-
preneurs who want to invest and create jobs 
and opportunities.
”
Davidson was enthusiastic about 
the recent MOT production, Stephen 
Sondheim’
s Sweeney Todd, which featured 
Tony Award winner and Michigan native 
Karen Ziemba.
“This is a more contemporary piece, and 
I hope these sorts of productions will reso-
nate with younger audiences,
” he says.
Resonating with Davidson’
s family away 
from opera are synagogue services that 
include lots of music; performances by 
Davidson’
s wife, Gretchen, a guitar player 
who also tours with the band Universal Eyes; 
and Davidson’
s own music now available 
free on the web.
Davidson, who writes some of the lyrics 
he performs, can be heard on YouTube with 
numbers that include “Death Don’
t Have 
No Mercy” and “Someday I’
ll Be Caught.
” 
Singles from his album “Come Down 
Lonesome,
” with some lyrics inspired by 
Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, are avail-
able through Spotify.
“We can never rest on our laurels,
” 
Davidson says about his goals for MOT. “We 
have work to do, but we’
re starting from a 
very good place. I’
m excited to be part of the 
team.
” 

COURTESY MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE

Ethan Davidson: 
“I’
m excited to be 
part of the team.”

“We can never rest on our 
laurels. We have work 
to do, but we’re starting 
from a very good place.”

— ETHAN DAVIDSON

 NOVEMBER 28 • 2019 | 43

