Don Baltzer said his first question before deciding to join AZ Phil’s board was, “What value can I bring?” Although Don just joined AZ Phil’s Board of Directors in June, 2024, he’s been bringing value photographing and video recording AZ Phil concerts and events since 2021.

Don brings 40+ years of experience in strategic planning, public relations, marketing, photography and videography. He is the face behind many of the still and video cameras at concerts and events as well as recording video interviews for AZ Phil’s on-line presence. He works closely with AZ Phil’s Marketing Manager Cynthia Jones to help tell our best story. “Don is a remarkably experienced and talented volunteer member of the AZ Phil marketing team, and a joy to collaborate with,” commented Cynthia Jones. “He brings a lot to the table.” His background also includes staging big events, including setting up the audio, video and lighting systems for those events, and that led Don to look at AZ Phil’s overall concert presentation.

“How can we enrich the actual concert experience for the audience, for example, with lighting? There’s a difference between lighting and illumination. Illumination is “flipping a general switch”. Lighting is planned, focused and designed to dramatically enhance the impact of what’s happening on the stage. Lighting takes a lot of work but it is an area I hope we can explore that will add to audience enjoyment.” For example, Don recalled a recent concert where the stage was lit to coordinate with the program, the February, 2024, Valentine’s themed-set design. “One number, the contemplative duet featuring pianist James D’Leon and cellist Ruthie Wilde was particularly moving, enhanced by using only red lighting on the performers with heart shapes projected on the backdrop during the piece. Absolutely stunning!”

Don also has experience on previous boards working on strategic plans. “Strategic planning is getting an organization to consider goals two, three or even five years in the future.” Don said it is not unusual for nonprofits to be so busy dealing with day-to-day “survival” issues that it is hard for them to find the time to step back to consider and plan for the future. “A strategic plan is a critical tool, a roadmap that helps ensure our priorities today are in sync with, and moving us closer to where we want to be tomorrow.”

What impresses Don about AZ Phil? “I think first and foremost is the commitment to excellence. From the beginning, whether I was working with Artistic Director Henry Flurry, the concert musicians, the board of directors or volunteers, I experienced a sense of professionalism and integrity that culminated in a performance standard and commitment that we, as an organization, will not settle for less just because we operate in a smaller market. The arts are a growing segment of the Prescott community and AZ Phil’s commitment to Prescott and advancing the classical music arts is supporting that growth.”

Don, whose previous board responsibilities didn’t include fundraising, also prefers a softer approach to fundraising. “AZ Phil understands that first, we have an obligation to establish a relationship or connection with our audience before we can ever hope to ask them for financial contributions. We need to offer a variety of options for our friends and patrons to actively support the overall growth of the arts in Prescott and specifically the growth and future of Arizona Philharmonic.”