CIM Expands Pre-College Chamber Music Program: “Every Child Deserves World-Class Training”

In a move that strengthens the Cleveland Institute of Music’s position as a national leader in chamber music education, CIM Prep expands its Pre-College Chamber Music Program beginning this fall. New faculty members – including members of The Cleveland Orchestra – have been recruited as coaches, more woodwind and brass players can now participate, and spring semester-only enrollments are now possible for those with marching band commitments in the fall.  

“As America’s pre-eminent classical conservatory, CIM has assembled an enviable roster of faculty-artists who excel at performing and teaching,” says President & CEO Paul W. Hogle. “With our second century in sight, we are leveraging our strengths – our distinguished faculty, master classes with visiting artists, and our conservatory students themselves – to expand access to high-quality chamber music training for pre-college students. This realizes CIM’s mission to prepare students to fulfill their dreams and potential because, regardless of their career goals, every child deserves world-class training.”  

This fall, violinist and pianist Carolyn Warner – who serves as director of the program – welcomes to the coaching roster Jeanelle Brierley, Meghan Guegold, Conservatory faculty member Stanley Konopka and Yun-Ting Lee. These four gifted musicians join artistic colleagues Minju Kim, Si-Yan Darren Li, Daniel Pereira, Gerardo Teissonnière and Shuai Wang and together comprise the core chamber music faculty at the pre-college level. Warner, Konopka and Lee are full-time members of The Cleveland Orchestra, and Brierley is a regular performer with the ensemble.  

The expanded program is also open to woodwind and brass players who wish to participate in chamber music; hornist Guegold brings significant experience with both woodwind and brass chamber music, offering more opportunities for these students to explore the repertoire. The new spring semester-only enrollment option is designed for those with marching band commitments as well as those who need extra time this fall to prepare for auditions.  

“All students – whether they are considering music school, business school or medical school – benefit from a chamber music experience,” explains Hogle. “Musicians who study chamber music develop an enhanced ability to listen and hear every detail of the music. It puts a greater responsibility on the players to know how their part fits within the overall musical idea by listening intently to their fellow players. It is the quintessential expression of a team, and that teamwork translates to every career path.” 

CIM Prep’s Pre-College Chamber Music students will participate in exclusive master classes – including one given by Stephen Rose, head of CIM’s violin department and principal second violin of The Cleveland Orchestra – and will have access to additional master classes led by professional chamber musicians touring to Cleveland and working with CIM conservatory students.  

Unique to CIM Prep, members of CIM’s internationally-recruited conservatory student body will also serve as mentors to the Pre-College chamber music students, providing a valuable perspective on personal practicing and preparation, managing group rehearsal time and studying music at the collegiate level.  

Interested students can now audition for the fall; visit cim.edu/prep for more information. Auditions for the spring semester will be held in December and January; email cim-preparatory@cim.edu to request a reminder later this fall.