Symphony Conductor Wants To Help Sterling

A heavy-hitter from West Haven was just added to the list of people who want to see the Sterling Opera House renovated and re-opened.

Dr. Dino F. Ciaburri, a West Haven resident and symphony conductor, attended a meeting last week organized by Mayor Anthony Staffieri.

Ciaburri said he’s known Staffieri for decades and was involved in an effort to renovate the opera house in the 1980s.

Unfortunately, I felt things were not moving in the right direction at the time,” Ciaburri said. Recently, the mayor mentioned to me that he thought I could be helpful in moving this project along. I said I’d love to help. I do feel it is the finest little theater in Connecticut and one of the best, I’m sure, in all of New England.” 

The hope is that Ciaburri can help get private donations flowing for Sterling’s renovation.

The opera house was built in 1889 and was in use until 1945. People who performed there include Red Skelton and John Philip Sousa.

Ciaburri was on the board of directors of the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven for 16 years. Two of those years were spent organizing fund-raising efforts for the theater. He has also served on art councils in New Haven and West Haven. He currently serves on the board of the Ward-Heitmann House Museum in West Haven.

I’ve been in many places where fund-raising is necessary. I’ve spent a lot of years helping these groups,” he said.

Staffieri brought together several people together last Monday who are interested in seeing the long-planned Sterling Opera House renovation become a reality. Article continues after the poll.


Do you support the renovation of the Sterling Opera House?online surveys

Those in attendance in addition to Ciaburri included Rich DiCarlo, of the Valley Arts Council; Sheila O’Malley, director of Economic and Community Development; and Beth Colette of Save Our Sterling.”

Colette said the Save Our Sterling” group has been relatively quiet for the last few years as Staffieri’s administration has been collecting grant money to make repairs to the opera house.

Colette said bringing Ciaburri into the fold is great.”

He has a lot of connections and a lot of great ideas. I’m very excited and I think we are going to be doing some things,” Colette said. We’re giving him information about our (group’s) by-laws and we’ve given him a (Sterling Opera House) feasibility study. We’ll see how much he wants to do.”

O’Malley said the city has been receiving federal money for renovations. Most recently, the city received a grant so that it could hire an architect to come up with a plan for an interior overhaul.

The mayor wanted to see if we can get re-engaged and do some private fund-raising. We’re getting federal and state money, but we need another piece to the puzzle to help with renovations.”

Derby has received the following grants:

  • $150,000 from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLaura
  • $25,000 CT Trust for Historic Preservation
  • $4,500 Valley Community Foundation
  • $7,500 Katharine Matthies/ Bank of America

Ciaburri said he’s happy to explore Sterling’s options.

Sterling has a perfect view no matter where you sit. Acoustically, it’s excellent. It’s just a beautiful theater. The potential there is incredible.”

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org