Sydney and Michael Fanning reflect on the profound impact that Salzburg Global and Schloss Leopoldskron have had in shaping their family’s legacy.
Sydney Day Fanning recalled bounding up and down the marble staircase at Schloss Leopoldskron with her older brother when she was just six years old.
From 1961-1964, Sydney’s father, Dr. Harry Day, was residential director at the Salzburg Seminar for American Studies, with the Day family living on the first floor of the palace. “In hindsight, the fact that my parents moved across the ocean and took this leap of faith for the Salzburg Seminar was a pivotal moment for my family. It made us who we are: open-minded, always learning, and ready to jump at any opportunity. I will always be grateful for their decision,” Sydney shared.
It was during his tenure in 1963 that the beloved film The Sound of Music was filmed onsite at Schloss Leopoldskron. Sydney recalled playing with some of the child actors in their downtime and generally spending time on set, often right next to Robert Wise, director of the film.
Decades later, Sydney returned to Schloss Leopoldskron with her husband, Michael, who was invited to speak as a guest lecturer at the 2015 program: People and Power: Will We Recognize the World in 2030? Michael was excited to learn more about the institution he had heard so much about.
“Dr. Day always spoke about the importance of Salzburg Global, and I was intrigued. From a personal perspective, I believe deeply in the goals and values of the organization, and I wanted to get involved. That opportunity to attend was incredibly valuable.”
Sydney and Michael remained staunch supporters of Salzburg Global from afar until this October, when they attended The Captain’s Ball, celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music. They were thrilled to celebrate the film that holds such a special place in the family’s heart, and Sydney was delighted to reunite with her former playmates: Duane Chase (Kurt), Kym Karath (Gretl), and Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich).
“The whole evening was just breathtaking. To see the castle transformed in that way was just magical.”
When it came time for the auction, Michael had his heart set on the naming rights for the updated The Sound of Music room in the Meierhof.
“We had always talked about leaving a gift, but we weren’t sure when or how. When I saw the naming rights on the auction list, I just knew that this was the perfect way to honor Sydney’s father and his enduring legacy on the Salzburg Seminar,” Michael shared. After securing the winning bid, Michael emotionally recounted the story of Sydney’s family connection to the film and the place with the audience, including several former actors and descendants of the Von Trapp family in the room.
Michael and Sydney are proud to continue supporting Salzburg Global and Schloss Leopoldskron for many years to come, in part to always honor the memory of Dr. Harry Day.
“My father was the smartest man I knew. He taught me [and my brother] to always question, always want to learn, and be in search of the answers. That was one of the things that made him feel so strongly about the Salzburg Seminar. He would have loved seeing how the organization has grown, and he would be impressed at how far it has come.”
About Michael and Sydney Fanning
Michael Fanning is a retired senior executive with a background in sustainability, communications, public affairs and international business. In 2017 Michael was elected inaugural president for the Business Partnership Foundation, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, the top-ranked USA business school for international programs. Prior to his appointment, Michael worked at Michelin's headquarters in France, leading the company's global program in sustainability and helping to establish new company governance, long-range goals and practices. Michael also held positions in the USA at Michelin (1999-2016), Liberty Corp. (1997-1999), The Reader's Digest Assn. (1994-1997), IBM (1984-1994), and the Associated General Contractors of America (1978-1984). Michael studied sustainability at Business School Lausanne and the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He holds a bachelor's degree in Radio, TV and Film from University College, University of Maryland, USA.
Sydney Day Fanning is a retired senior executive with a background in intelligence analysis, communications, human resources and non-profit management, fund development and volunteer outreach. After graduating from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., she joined the Central Intelligence Agency in McLean, Va., joining a team of analysts in preparing the President’s Daily Brief for the C.I.A. Director and later providing intelligence analysis for Latin American countries. After leaving the agency, Sydney worked successively at the Ethics & Public Policy Center/Kennedy Institute for the Study of Bioethics at Georgetown University, the American Film Institute (where she reunited with The Sound of Music director Robert Wise), the American Bankers Association and several law firms. While living in France (2011-2015), Sydney was president of the International Women’s Club. On returning to the United States, she focused on public relations and volunteer outreach, serving as president/CEO for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, directing public relations outreach for Welvista, which provided prescription medications for the working uninsured, and directing the Food for Thought conference in Greenville, S.C.
