DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), head of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, led a press conference at the Schuster Center to announce that the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, with assistance from the Dayton Philharmonic, will perform in Dayton as part of the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session. The visit will include two performances, with the highlight being the “Concert for Peace” on May 29, 2025, conducted by world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop at the Schuster Center. This marks the Sarajevo Philharmonic’s only U.S. performances on this tour.
“This is going to be a Concert for Peace to commemorate peace in the Balkans — the 30th anniversary for the Dayton Peace Accords — but also a concert for our community,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “Sarajevo Philharmonic and the Dayton Philharmonic will be joining together for this concert, and our community will be able to come together as we did 30 years ago to commemorate what occurred here and what was accomplished in peace in the Balkans.”
“We're looking forward to presenting an evening that celebrates Dayton's legacy of championing peace and shines a bright spotlight on our flourishing arts community,” said Gabriel van Aalst, President/CEO of Dayton Live. “The concept of peace will honor the Dayton Peace Accords and, of course, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly—both profound moments in Dayton's history of striving for harmony and connection. Nearly 30 years since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, its impact on the daily community remains ever present.”
“I remember very well the winter of 1995 when all of us here started losing—easily losing hope—that this chaos would ever stop. And then it happened: a peace agreement was reached, bringing life back to Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Vedran Tuce, Director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic. “We are truly honored to be part of the "Concert for Peace", as well as the concert in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.”
“Our musicians are so excited to be working together with yours. The NATO concert itself will be conducted by our music director, Keitaro Harada, and we are also really honored that Marin Alsop, one of the greatest leading conductors, will be conducting the combined orchestras here at the beautiful Benjamin and Marian Schuster Center for the Performing Arts,” said Patrick Nugent, President/CEO of Dayton Philharmonic. “We're unbelievably fortunate to have this facility available in our community.”
“We really look forward to Wright State taking part and supporting the Sarajevo Orchestra so that they truly get the most out of their visit to Dayton, and hopefully, they will make their return presence at a later date,” said Dr. Sue Edwards, President of Wright State University. “But we can't wait to see your performances, and we can't wait to welcome all of the members of NATO who will be joining us here.”
Background:
The Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina and founded in 1923, has long served as a cultural symbol of resilience and unity throughout the world. Their participation in Dayton’s NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session underscores the city’s pivotal role in international diplomacy and further commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.
In 2022, Congressman Turner first approached Sarajevo Philharmonic Director Vedran Tuce about bringing the orchestra to Dayton for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session. Since that time, he has met with Director Tuce in Sarajevo numerous times as the project progressed.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly was created in 1955 to serve as a link between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the parliaments of the now 32 NATO nations, with the most recent additions being Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024). The United States has not hosted a session since the Annual Session in Orlando, FL, in the Fall of 2003. The U.S. has never hosted a Spring Session of the Assembly until Dayton 2025.
In 2022, Congressman Turner initiated discussions to bring the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton, aligning with the 30th anniversary of the historic Dayton Accords. This past spring, alongside Governor DeWine, Congressman Turner officially announced Dayton’s selection as the host city for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 2025 Spring Session from May 22 to May 26, 2025.
Congressman Turner was appointed to NATO PA in January 2009 and has served as Head of the U.S. Delegation since January 2011. Congressman Turner served as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from November 2014 to November 2016.