CIM remains a leading source of world-class music in 2024-25 season, during renovation of Kulas Hall

Just because Kulas Hall is being renovated doesn’t mean musical life at CIM is on hold.   

Just the opposite, actually.   

As a new school year begins, CIM has slated a 2024-25 concert season that’s as busy and bold as ever, one defined by relentless spirits of curiosity, creativity, and adventure.  

“CIM’s commitment to defining and redefining the future of classical music is undiminished,” said Scott Harrison, CIM’s Executive Vice President & Provost.   

“We may be down a concert hall, temporarily, but we are no less determined this season to present our listeners in Cleveland and around the world with a rich, diverse picture of our endlessly creative art form in the 21st century.”   

Even as work on Kulas Hall continues through the 2024-25 academic year, CIM will remain a leading destination – or a source – of great performances all over Northeast Ohio. Patrons can look forward to full lineups from the CIM Orchestra, CIM Opera Theater, and CIM New Music Ensemble, as well as dedicated Perspectives and Insiders series showcasing CIM’s illustrious faculty and guests.    

What will differ are the venues. CIM’s Mixon Hall will remain in active use but events typically held in Kulas Hall will take CIM musicians broadly into the community, to a variety of locations including Severance Music Center, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Maltz Performing Arts Center, and local high schools. Of special note will be two opera productions at Cleveland’s historic Playhouse Square.   

But that is just an overview. The real excitement lies in the details. Among the many highlights of the 2024-25 season: 

• A fully staged production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square.  

• The return of guest conductors JoAnn Falletta, Anthony Parnther, and Tito Muñoz. And the CIM Orchestra debuts of Carolyn Kuan and Jeri Lynne Johnson. 

• First-ever appearances by the CIM Orchestra at John Hay High School, Mentor High School, and Lorain County Community College.  

• Visits from composers Curtis Stewart, Marilyn Shrude, Claude Baker, and Margaret Brouwer.  

• The return of world-music icon Mike Block (BM ’04, Aaron), with Biribá Union, as well as the second year of the student-led Global Music Experience.   

• The launch of an artistic relationship with the Gateways Music Festival, dedicated to celebrating Black Classical artistry, via an appearance by their Brass Collective. 

• A black-box production of Chabrier’s L’Étoile, at Playhouse Square.   

• A spotlight on CIM faculty via Insiders, including Tan Dun’s Cello Sonata with Wei Yu.  

A detailed list of events is below. Most events are free with tickets required, but a few select performances entail paid admission. Tickets are available Aug. 29.  

For more information or to order tickets to fall season events, visit cim.edu/events. Tickets to spring events will be available later. All visiting artists, including guests with the CIM Orchestra, are generously supported by the Kulas Foundation.    

TransDigm Group Inc. is the official sponsor of CIM's 2024-25 concert season.

 

CIM ORCHESTRA   

The CIM Orchestra will again enjoy a full season at Severance Music Center, home of The Cleveland Orchestra. This year, the ensemble will appear at Severance four times in addition to other venues. The Severance season opens Oct. 8 with conductor Jake Taniguchi and continues Nov. 8 with conductor Carolyn Kuan; Jan. 28 with conductor Tito Muñoz; and March 26 with conductor JoAnn Falletta (all guest conductors are Kulas Foundation Visiting Artists.) In addition, the orchestra will make five appearances in the broader community: Sept. 20 at John Hay High School; Oct. 25 at Maltz Performing Arts Center; Nov. 20 at Mentor High School; Feb. 12 in Stocker Arts Center at Lorain County Community College; and April 10 at Mentor High School.   

   

CIM OPERA THEATER  

Unable to perform at home in Kulas Hall, CIM Opera Theater and interim artistic director JJ Hudson will take their highly regarded shows on the road for the entire 2024-25 season. First up, Nov. 16 and 17, is Chabrier’s L’Étoile, in a new production in the Westfield Theatre at Playhouse Square. After that, Feb. 1 and 2, comes Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, with guest conductor Rakefet Hak, in a new arrangement conceived for Gartner Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The final main production will be Mozart’s Don Giovanni, April 23 and 25 in the Ohio Theater at Playhouse Square, led by CIMOT music director Harry Davidson. Lastly, on March 1 and 2, the company will present its annual Spring Scenes program, directed by Jeremy Paul, in Mixon Hall. CIM Opera Theater is generously supported by the John P. Murphy Foundation.    

   

CIM NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE   

CIM’s New Music Ensemble, directed by Composition Department Head Keith Fitch, will host acclaimed violinist-composer Curtis Stewart for a concert of his music Sept. 29 in Mixon Hall. A little over a month later, on Nov. 3, the ensemble convenes again, this time around the music of Marilyn Shrude, Distinguished Artist Professor at Bowling Green State University. The new year will see a visit from Fitch’s predecessor, Margaret Brouwer, and a concert of her music on Feb. 16. The season concludes April 6 with an evening at the Cleveland Museum of Art, featuring the music of Indiana University professor Claude Baker. The CIM New Music Ensemble is generously supported by the Roy Minoff Family Fund.    

   

CIM PERSPECTIVES   

A new edition of this series featuring Kulas Foundation Visiting Artists kicks off Sept. 17 with Biribá Union, a world-music trio featuring cellist and CIM alum Mike Block, guitarist and vocalist Christylez Bacon, and guitarist Patricia Ligia. The season continues Oct. 16 with the Quince Ensemble, the so-called “Anonymous 4 of contemporary music,” performing Courtney Bryan’s Requiem alongside a student ensemble and with the composer in residence; and Gateways Brass Collective, Feb. 4. All events take place in Mixon Hall. More events, program details, and ticket information will be announced later.    

   

CIM INSIDERS   

The fall half of this series highlighting CIM’s esteemed faculty in Mixon Hall kicks off Oct. 2 with Brian Wendel, principal trombone of The Cleveland Orchestra, and pianist Ellen Sommer. It continues Oct. 23 with newly appointed cello faculty member Wei Yu and pianist Keun-A Lee. Violinist Ilya Kaler concludes the fall series Nov. 13, in concert with CIM student pianist Michelle Bushkova. In the spring, pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi, cellist Si-Yan Darren Li, and violinist Ilya Kaler will celebrate Ravel’s 150th birthday March 21; and pianist Carolyn Warner will perform with friends, April 15.  More events, program details, and ticket information will be announced at a later date. Concert dates and program information are subject to change.    

 

OTHER EVENTS 

Not everything CIM presents falls neatly into a single category. Case in point: the Global Music Experience, Dec. 17. On that day, in Mixon Hall, cellist Mike Block and a group of musically curious students will present a showcase of their wide-ranging explorations this fall. No less boundary-crossing will be the CIM Chamber Orchestra, led by violinist Todd Phillips, Nov. 20, featuring works by Britten, Shaw, and Mozart; or the diverse array of small ensemble and Academy Showcase concerts slated to conclude the fall season Dec. 2-13. 

 

FALL 2024 SEASON DETAILS 

 

Tuesday, September 17 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Biribá Union 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artists 

Cellist, CIM alum, and all-around superstar Mike Block joins forces with percussionist and vocalist Christylez Bacon and electric bassist Patricia Ligia in this unique trio playing original songs and improvisations from a wide array of musical traditions. 

 

Friday, September 20 

7:30pm | John Hay High School Auditorium 

CIM Orchestra 

Anthony Parnther, guest conductor  

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

SCHUMANN  Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97, “Rhenish” 

STILL  Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American”  

WILLIAMS  Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial  

 

Saturday, September 28 

4pm | Room 217 

New Music Symposium 

Guest composer Curtis Stewart discusses his music. 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

 

Sunday, September 29 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

New Music Ensemble 

Keith Fitch, director 

Curtis Stewart, guest composer/violin 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

IVES   String Quartet No. 2 (1907-13) 

STEWART   The Gilded Cage (2023) 

STEWART   Do you see the Flag? (2020) 

STEWART   Selections from 24 American Caprices (2024) 

New Music Ensemble is generously supported by the Roy Minoff Family Fund. 

 

Wednesday, October 2  

CIM INSIDERS 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Brian Wendel, trombone 

Ellen Sommer, piano 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Featuring a variety of transcriptions and original music for trombone and piano by Lili and Nadia Boulanger, Fritz Kreisler, Brian Raphael Nabors, Shawn Okpebholo, and more. 

 

Sunday, October 6 

3pm | Mixon Hall 

Academy Recital 

 

Tuesday, October 8 

7:30pm | Severance Music Center 

CIM Orchestra 

Jake Taniguchi, conductor (GD ’24) 

Jaime Laredo, violin 

Jessica Lee, violin 

BEETHOVEN  Egmont Overture, Op. 84 

PRICE  String Quartet No. 1 in G Major: II. Andante moderato (arr. Martin) 

BACH  Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043 

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60 

Severance Ticket Office: clevelandorchestra.com or 216.231.1111 

Governing Member VIP Tickets: 216.795.3160 

 

Wednesday, October 16 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Quince Ensemble 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artists 

Nicknamed the “anonymous 4 of contemporary music,” Quince is a vocal ensemble specializing in the music of our time. They are four female vocalists relentlessly pushing boundaries of style and sound. 

 

Saturday, October 19 

5pm | Church of the Saviour 

Academy Piano Recital 

 

Wednesday, October 23 

CIM INSIDERS 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Wei Yu, cello 

Keun-A Lee, piano 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

JANÁČEK   Pohádka (Fairy Tale) 

DUN   Crouching Tiger Sonata (2000; arr. 2018) 

FRANCK   Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 

 

Friday, October 25 

7:30pm | Maltz Performing Arts Center 

CIM Orchestra 

Jeri Lynne Johnson, guest conductor 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Taein Yi, clarinet, student artist 

CLYNE   Sound and Fury (2019) 

NIELSEN   Clarinet Concerto, Op. 57 

HAYDN   Symphony No. 102 in B-flat Major, Hob.I:102 

MPAC Box Office: case.edu/maltzcenter or 216.368.6062 

 

Saturday, November 2 

4pm | Room 217 

New Music Symposium  

Guest composer Marilyn Shrude discusses her music. 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

 

Sunday, November 3 

3pm | Church of the Saviour 

Upper Academy Recital 

 

Sunday, November 3 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

New Music Ensemble  

Keith Fitch, director 

Marilyn Shrude, guest composer/piano 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

John Sampen, saxophone 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

SCHOENBERG   Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 (1906; arr. Webern, 1923) 

SHRUDE   Within Silence (2012)  

SHRUDE   Secrets (2004)  

SHRUDE   Within the Wall (2018/2021)  

New Music Ensemble is generously supported by the Roy Minoff Family Fund. 

 

Friday, November 8 

7:30pm | Severance Music Center 

CIM Orchestra 

Carolyn Kuan, guest conductor 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Natalie Brennecke, viola (BM ’24) 

RAVEL   Mother Goose Suite, M. 60 

STRAUSS   Don Juan, Op. 20 

PENDERECKI   Viola Concerto (1983) 

SIMON   AMEN! (2017, rev. 2019) 

Severance Ticket Office: clevelandorchestra.com or 216.231.1111 

Governing Member VIP Tickets: 216.795.3160 

 

Wednesday, November 13 

CIM INSIDERS 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Ilya Kaler, violin 

Michelle Bushkova, piano, student artist 

SZYMANOWSKI   Violin Sonata in D minor, Op. 9 

RAVEL   Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, M. 77 

ENESCU   Violin Sonata No. 3 (In Romanian Folk Style), Op. 25 

 

Saturday, November 16 

7pm | Westfield Theatre, Playhouse Square 

Sunday, November 17 

3pm | Westfield Theatre, Playhouse Square 

CIM Opera Theater 

JJ Hudson, director 

Harry Davidson, conductor  

CIM Orchestra 

CHABRIER   L’étoile 

Tickets: $30  

Playhouse Square Box Office: playhousesquare.org or 216.241.6000.  

CIM Opera Theater is supported by a grant from the John P. Murphy Foundation. 

 

Sunday, November 17 

3pm | Church of the Saviour 

Lower Academy Recital 

 

Wednesday, November 20 

7:30pm | Mentor High School Fine Arts Center  

CIM Chamber Orchestra 

Todd Phillips, leader 

SHAW   and the swallow (arr. Azkoul) 

BRITTEN   Simple Symphony, Op. 4 

MOZART   Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 

 

Saturday, November 23 

12pm | Mixon Hall 

Academy Choirs and Orchestra Concert 

 

Sunday, November 24 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

Composition Department Recital 

Featuring new works by CIM student composers. 

 

Monday, December 2 

7pm | Mixon Hall 

Intensive Duo Concert 

 

Tuesday, December 3 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Percussion Ensemble Concert 

 

Friday, December 6 

7pm | Mixon Hall 

Advanced Piano Trio Program Concert 

 

Saturday, December 7 

7pm | Mixon Hall 

Brass & Woodwind Ensembles Concert I 

 

Sunday, December 8 

3pm | Church of the Saviour 

Upper Academy Recital 

 

Sunday, December 8 

2pm | Mixon Hall 

Brass & Woodwind Ensembles Concert II 

 

Monday, December 9 

7pm | Mixon Hall 

Advanced String Quartet Program Concert 

 

Tuesday, December 10 

7pm | Harkness Chapel 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert I 

 

Wednesday, December 11 

7pm | Church of the Saviour 

Continuing Education and Upper Academy Recital 

 

Wednesday, December 11 

7pm | Harkness Chapel 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert II 

 

Thursday, December 12 

3pm | Harkness Chapel 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert III 

 

Thursday, December 12 

7pm | Harkness Chapel 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert IV 

 

Friday, December 13 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Academy Showcase Recital 

 

Sunday, December 15 

2pm | Church of the Saviour 

Academy Chamber Music Recital I  

 

Sunday, December 15 

4:30pm | Church of the Saviour 

Academy Chamber Music Recital II 

 

Tuesday, December 17 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Global Music Experience Concert 

Featuring performances by Mike Block and CIM students.