Welcome to the historic Ariel Opera House

Welcome to the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre, the historic Ariel Opera House, permanent home of The Ohio Valley Symphony, in the heart of Gallipolis, Ohio. Explore our website for upcoming performances and events, lessons, directions, and history! Be sure to contact the Ariel Opera House Box Office at 740-446-ARTS (2787) if you have any questions or if we may help you in planning your next visit to Gallipolis.

Dr. Mel Simón, In Memoriam

Dr. Mel P. Simon, Age 89 of Gallipolis, Ohio Passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025, in Evanston, Illinois, surrounded by his loving family.

A Life Well-Lived

Dr. Mel P. Simon was born on October 29, 1935, in Angadanon, Isabela, Philippines, to Lucrecia Palatao Simon and Melecio G. Simon. He was the eight of twelve children.

During his last year in medical school, he met his Valentine sweetheart, Lydia Sarzaba, a young nurse who would become the love of his life. In 1959, when Dr. Simon traveled to the United States for medical training, he arranged to be on Lydia’s flight, knowing that she was also heading to the U.S. for a position at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. They married that same year and soon arranged to work at the same hospital.

Dr. Simon graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Medical School in 1959 and completed his surgical internship and residency in Urology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in 1966.

Settling in Gallipolis, Ohio, Dr. Simon dedicated his life to serving the community. He was the only urologist across several counties while working with Holzer Hospital. In 1972, he and Lydia founded the Hillcrest Urological Clinic, where he took care of his patients and performed surgeries out of four hospitals in Ohio and West Virginia. His commitment to healthcare extended beyond urology. He was a founding member of Pinecrest Nursing Home, now known as The Arbors, in 1978. This was the first facility dedicated to senior care in Southeast Ohio.

A man of deep generosity and service, Dr. Simon was actively involved in the Rotary Club of Gallipolis. Alongside Lydia, he led “Operation We Care,” a medical-surgical mission team that provided care to indigent patients in remote areas of the Philippines for over 30 years. With the help of Rotary International and local Rotarians, he brought hope and healing to many. His leadership was widely recognized, and he was honored to be the first Filipino-American to serve as District Governor of Rotary District 6690 in the United States (1998-1999).

In 2009, he established the French 500 Free Clinic in Gallia County to provide medical care to uninsured patients. He also served on the Rio Grande University Board of Trustees for many years and funded a new Chemistry Lab. In 2010, he was honored and inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the community.

Col. Mel P Simon
Oct. 28, 1994

Dr. Simon was proud to serve in the United States Air Force Reserves, Medical Corps, achieving the rank of full Colonel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. His love for service blended with his passion for flying, and he became an instrument-rated pilot, flying his own planes.

A philanthropist, among his many projects, he and Lydia were instrumental in the restoration of the historic Ariel Opera House which led to the birth of The Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra, where he served on the Board of Directors.

A world traveler, Dr. Simon always found solace at his home by the Ohio River. Fulfilling his father’s dream of becoming a farmer, he purchased and worked on a 150-acre historic dairy farm in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, renaming it Simon’s Old Town Farm. Here is where many family reunions and community fundraising campaigns were celebrated.

He was an avid Harley motorcyclist, a downhill skier, and a lover of water sports and boating.

He was a man of deep faith and a devout Catholic. An active parishioner at St. Louis Catholic Church, Dr. Simon was 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Family & Loved Ones

Dr. Simon is survived by his beloved wife, Lydia Sarzaba Simon, and his children:
• Maria Lucrecia Simon (Paul Weber) Skokie, Illinois
• Sherwyn Simon (Theresa Simon) Point Pleasant, West Virginia
• Paul Simon (deceased) Paul Simon (Agnes Enrico Simon) Point Pleasant, West Virginia

He was a cherished grandfather to Lauren Simon SeJan, Ross Dixon, Joshua Simon, Jacob Simon, and Zachary Simon, and a loving great-grandfather to Isabell Albarran, Elliott SeJan, and Collins SeJan. Dr. Simon was beloved brother to Remy Simon of Gallipolis, Ohio.

Service & Remembrance

A visitation and Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church followed by a Celebration of Life in Evanston, IL, on March 22, 2025. Dr. Simon’s final resting place will be at Ohio Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Gallipolis, Ohio, on March 29, 2025.

The family expresses deep appreciation for his team of compassionate caregivers and the Hospice Team at Journey Care, as well as The Merion community and staff for their kindness and care.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mel’s name to:
Ariel Opera House
www.arieloperahouse.org
Ohio Valley Symphony
PO Box 424 Gallipolis, OH 45631

Heritage Ohio’s 2024 Historic Theatre of the Year Award

The Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre
Home of the Ohio Valley Symphony
Gallipolis

On Tuesday evening, October 15th, Heritage Ohio held their 2024 Annual Awards ceremony at the Midland Theatre in Newark, Ohio, as the opening of their annual conference. Over 100 nominations were received for 11 awards. The awards honor Ohio’s best projects, places and people who create lasting impacts through historic preservation and community revitalization.

This year’s award for the Historic Theatre of the Year Award was presented to the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre in Gallipolis.

The Historic Theatre of the Year Award is presented to the historic theatre, opera house or cinema which most embodies the spirit of historic preservation.

The Ariel Opera House, built in 1895 by the Ariel Oddfellows Lodge and designed by the state architects Packard and Yost, originally featured two street-level storefronts, a banquet hall and parlors on the second floor and a lodge room on the third floor. After changing hands several times, the Gallia Masonic Lodge acquired it in 1919, adding another storefront, a ballroom and expanded facilities in 1930. While the front portion of the building remained in use, the theatre portion closed in the mid-1960’s and fell into disrepair. Local professional musician, Lora Lynn Snow, attracted by the spectacular acoustics of the abandoned opera house, began efforts to restore it in 1987 for use by The Ohio Valley Symphony she wanted to form. With community support, the Ariel was restored preserving the original architecture such as golden oak woodwork and ornamental plaster while bringing it up to code. A Grand Re-Opening was held June 9, 1990.

In 2005, Mrs. Ann Carson Dater purchased the building and gave it to The Ohio Valley Symphony for their home in perpetuity. Subsequent work included installing energy efficient windows, a new elevator, upgraded HVAC, plaster repair and painting and a new marquee.

In 2014 the Box Office was restored recreating the original 1895 aesthetic at the street level. In 2016 with the help of the League of Historic American Theatres, the original carpet was recreated and installed. Now restored to her former glamour, the Ariel retains the nineteenth century look, but boasts state-of-the-art amenities such as Wi-Fi throughout and is ADA accessible. The Ariel is recognized as one of the top 10 restored theatres in Ohio.

Heritage Ohio Prompts economic growth through the preservation and revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods across Ohio. Heritage Ohio is the designated statewide Ohio preservation partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through saving the places that matter we can all build a community and live better. Learn more about how to get involved by visiting heritageohio.org.

Ohio Arts Council Governor’s Awards for the Arts Winner

ARTS ADMINISTRATION
Lora Snow, Executive Director
at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre,
Home of the Ohio Valley Symphony
Gallipolis

Lora Lynn Snow is the founder and executive director of the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre in Gallipolis, home of the Ohio Valley Symphony. Lora, an oboist, was inspired in 1987 to form a professional orchestra in Gallia County and recognized the amazing acoustics in the long-neglected 1895 Ariel Opera House that had been abandoned for 25 years. Lora spearheaded the restoration and set about to organize the community toward the grand reopening of the historic Ariel in 1990 with a performance of the Ohio Valley Symphony. Mrs. Ann Carson Dater gifted the Ariel as a permanent home to the Ohio Valley Symphony (OVS) in 2005, which added an additional theatre, conference room, and banquet rooms. The OVS, now in its 30th season as the only professional orchestra in the Ohio River Valley, recently premiered Songs of Rural America on PBS nationwide with folk singer Michael Johnathon.

Having a holistic view of the arts, Lora also established a music education program, a double reed festival, a community theatre troupe, and OVS woodwind and dance programs at the Ariel. An active recitalist, clinician, and consultant with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance and education from the Ohio State University, Lora has taught at several universities and public schools covering kindergarten through graduate level inclusive. She is principal oboist for the Ohio Valley Symphony and OVS Woodwind Quintet, a member of the West Virginia Symphony, and a freelance musician.

A Video History of the Ariel Opera House

Watch the history of the Ariel Opera House unfold – from it’s opening on Christmas Day 1895 to the present.  Narrated by the founder and Executive Director Lora Lynn Snow.

Ariel Academy Online Music Lessons

The Ariel Academy is designed to help you find a teacher to guide you through your musical journeys. Whether you need to find a piano teacher for your first grader or are a professional taking orchestral auditions, a college student needing help with music theory or an aspiring composer needing guidance, you can set up one or more lessons with one of The Ohio Valley Symphony’s musicians.