July 23, 2009
Maryland Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors Holds Election of New Officers

Hagerstown, MD—Anton (Tony) Dahbura was recently elected to serve as the president of the board of directors of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO).  Joining him as part of the MSO’s leadership team are Dori Nipps, vice-president/president elect; Barbara Henderson, secretary; and, Brendan Fitzsimmons as treasurer and finance chair. 

Also elected were the following executive committee members:  Bradley Pingrey, assistant treasurer; Sandy Wantz, artistic advisory chair; Hugh Talton, development chair; Deborah Bockrath, education chair; April Dowler, endowment chair; Nancy Glen, marketing chair; Emmet Burke, nominating chair; Spence Perry, personnel chair; and, Elizabeth Morgan and Ed Lough, members at large. 

Anton Dahbura received a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University.  He has an extensive background in research and development for AT&T Laboratories, Motorola and Digital Equipment Corporation (now HP).  In 1996 he joined Hub Labels, Inc. as its corporate vice president.  A recipient of the Johns Hopkins Heritage Award for service to the university, he also serves as chair of the university’s Computer Science Department Advisory Board.  Dahbura is also chair of the board of Antietam Health Services and has served on numerous other community boards.  Dahbura and his wife, Maria, have two children, Gregory and Juliana, and reside in Hagerstown.

Dori Nipps was elected to the Washington County Board of Education in 1994 and served on various local and state committees, including the Maryland Association of Boards of Education Legislative Committee.  In 2002 she was elected to the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, serving until 2006.  She has held leadership positions with Habitat for Humanity and Antietam Healthcare Foundation and now serves as the executive director of PenMar Development Corporation in Cascade, MD.  An active community volunteer she has served on various Chamber of Commerce committees and boards including the Maryland Theatre, the Humane Society and the Washington County Commission for Women.  A graduate of Kaplan College, Nipps resides in Hagerstown with her husband, Jim. 

Barbara Henderson is currently serving as co-chair of the MSO’s Development Committee and previously served as chair of its Personnel Committee.  She also was president of the MSO Guild from 2006-2008 and chaired the MSO’s 20th anniversary event featuring Doc Severinsen.  Henderson is a member of several community organizations and has served as co-chair for past Hagerstown Community College Foundation tributes.  Designated as a Washington County Master Gardener, she also serves as State Conservation Chair for the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc.  She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and has been employed with Seton Hill College, Frederick Community College and Penn State.  She and her husband, Tom, reside in Hagerstown. 

After graduating from Swarthmore College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and history, Brendan Fitzsimmons attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina, where he received a Master of Arts in historical musicology.  His interest in the stock market led him to Ferris, Baker Watts—now RBC Wealth Management—in January of 1999.  He formed the Hershey-Fitzsimmons Group with John Hershey in 2001.  In 2007 On Wall Street magazine named him as one of the Top 40 Advisors Under 40.  He has served as president of the MSO and the Washington County Historical Society and is currently the chair of the Finance Committee of the Antietam Healthcare Foundation and a member of the Museum Committee of the Maryland Historical Society.  Fitzsimmons resides in Williamsport with his wife, Katie, and their children, Barbara and Dalton. 

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.