Cleveland Institute of Music

Cleveland Institute of Music

When Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) president David Cerone steps down from his position later this year, he will be able to look back with pride on what he has helped to achieve since joining the Ohio conservatory two decades ago.

Since his appointment in 1985 Cerone has overseen a doubling in the size of enrolment, from 200 to over 400 students. He has introduced a Young Artists program, established the annual ENCORE summer school for strings and fostered a close relationship with the Cleveland Orchestra.

'All of the principal players of the orchestra teach here, which is unique,' he says. From CIM's full and part-time faculty of 185, 38 are current members of the orchestra, with several others retired players.

And the connection with the Cleveland Orchestra is two-way. 'Three-quarters of the orchestra has an intimate connection with CIM and 35 members of the orchestra are graduates of the institute,' adds Cerone.

'there is an abundance of regional orchestras that regularly employ CIM students'.

The relationship is a strong selling point for students. 'Being just down the street from one of the world's greatest orchestras is an amazing asset for CIM,' says harpist Cheryl Losey, 22, from Harpswell, Maine.

Losey gained a Bachelors degree from CIM last year and is now working towards a Masters qualification with Yolanda Kondonassis, head of the harp department, who is herself a product of CIM. Even beyond the Cleveland Orchestra, she points out that 'there is an abundance of regional orchestras that regularly employ CIM students'.

The institute is particularly successful at helping students find jobs in the music industry: its website boasts that '80 per cent of the alumni perform in major national and international orchestras and opera companies and hold prominent teaching positions around the world'.

Erik Hasselquist, a 24-year-old trumpeter from Minnesota, says once people have tasted musical life in Cleveland, they tend to want to stay there. 'Because of Cleveland's support of the arts, many CIM graduates stay in Cleveland after completing their studies and teach and perform around town, adding to the rich legacy that this city has.'

• Print
• Email to friend
• Discuss