CIM Announces Third-Year Student Olivia Gill as Recipient of Prestigious Bolton Violin

The Cleveland Institute of Music has named third-year violin student Olivia Gill, from Salt Lake City, Utah as the newest recipient of the Bolton Violin, one of CIM’s most prized instruments.

The 1910 Stefano Scarampella violin was gifted to CIM in 2019 by philanthropist John Bolton and is made available through the Bolton Violin loan program to support exceptional CIM students as they develop their artistry and prepare for professional careers.

"I like to think that this Scarampella has a charmed life, having supported so many talented CIM students preceding Ms Gill. Chad Hoopes, for example (currently taking time from his performance schedule to teach at CIM and SMU), was a student recipient of this very Scarampella while at CIM. His artistic trajectory is rooted in the values and traditions offered by way of legendary CIM greats," shared Mr. Bolton. "The right instrument in the right hands can open the ear, mind, and heart to profound artistic discoveries. Cleveland’s Institute of Music is where magic begins."

For Gill, the opportunity to play an instrument with such a rich history represents an important new chapter in her musical development.

“There are no words to express the joy and excitement I feel," shared Gill. "I’m so grateful to John Bolton and the Payne Fund for the opportunity to spend the next chapter of my musical journey with this instrument. As a freshman listening to Zach Brandon play this violin in Severance, I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined I’d have the opportunity to play the same instrument. It’s a sublime gift."

Built in Italy by renowned luthier Stefano Scarampella, the violin is celebrated for its rich, resonant tone and its ability to project in large performance spaces. Previous CIM students who have played the instrument have praised its versatility and its suitability for major solo repertoire.

Mr. Bolton's donation of the Bolton Violin complements a longstanding relationship between CIM and the Payne Fund, which has supported education and cultural initiatives since its founding in 1929 by Frances Payne and Chester Castle Bolton. The fund has been a longtime supporter of CIM scholarships and student opportunities. The Bolton family also supports CIM through The Payne Fund Prize, which enables winners of CIM’s Concerto Competition to perform with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

“The Payne Fund has transformed the lives of current and former students alike, enabling many to realize or begin pursuing their dreams,” said CIM President & CEO Paul Hogle. “I never cease to be amazed by or grateful for the many ways John and the Bolton family find to show their affection for this school and its students.”

For Gill, the Bolton Violin will provide an instrument with which to further explore her artistry while taking on the demands of advanced study and performance. She will first use the violin in public performances at Cleveland's Church of the Covenant on October 11, and with the CIM Orchestra on November 20. 

The Bolton Violin joins CIM’s extraordinary collection of instruments and serves as a tangible example of the ways CIM’s supporters invest in the artistic development and professional futures of its students.