Cleveland Institute of Music and Equity Arc Partner to Host Scales to Success Residency

Four-day residency will help young classical musicians develop the skills, strategies, and relationships to advance their artistic and educational goals. 

The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and Equity Arc announce a three-year partnership and the first Scales to Success Residency, March 4–7, 2027, welcoming an inaugural cohort of pre-college classical instrumentalists to CIM for an immersive experience focused on artistic growth, informed decision-making, and preparation for advanced musical study. 

The four-day Residency will connect students with CIM faculty and peers through artistic assessments, feedback, observation of conservatory life, admissions guidance, and collaborative music-making. As an intensive in-person experience within Equity Arc’s emerging Scales to Success coaching model, the Residency will focus on process-oriented goal setting, interpreting feedback, and building confidence that will support the next steps of their development. 

The partnership reflects CIM’s commitment to supporting the next generation of classical musicians by making the pathways, expectations, and resources of advanced musical study more accessible and understandable, while helping young artists build the capacity to navigate consequential educational, financial, and artistic decisions. 

“Preparing the next generation of musicians requires more than developing exceptional performers. It means helping young artists understand the opportunities available to them, build the relationships that will support their growth, and develop the confidence and skills to navigate their own paths,” said Scott Harrison, CIM Executive Vice President and Provost. “Our partnership with Equity Arc allows us to share CIM’s expertise and resources with talented young musicians at a formative moment in their development. We are excited to welcome these students to our community and help them envision what their futures in music might hold.” 

Scales to Success is Equity Arc's sustained coaching model that focuses on the developmental capacities that support professional advancement. Preparing young musicians for professional careers requires intentional investment in developing the resilience and capacity for self-direction they need to navigate the challenges of their training and musical journey. Scales to Success is intentionally designed around the specific demands of becoming a professional musician. 

During the Residency, students will participate in faculty-led artistic assessments and feedback sessions, observe conservatory classes, explore admissions and audition expectations, and consider the financial and educational decisions involved in advanced study. With support from Equity Arc, they will interpret what they learn, identify concrete goals, and begin building actionable plans they can assess and refine over time. The experience will also create opportunities to connect with CIM students, faculty, and the broader musical community. 

“Becoming a professional musician requires far more than artistic excellence. Young artists must learn to seek and interpret feedback, make consequential decisions, adapt when something isn’t working, and persist through the challenges of a demanding field,” said Stanford Thompson, Executive Director of Equity Arc. “Scales to Success invests in those capacities directly. Our residency with CIM will help students understand where they are, set meaningful goals, and turn what they learn into specific next steps. We want them to leave not simply with a memorable conservatory experience but better equipped to direct their own growth.” 

The Residency will also immerse participants in CIM’s musical and educational community. Activities will include interactions with CIM faculty and students, discussions about admissions and educational pathways, and a side-by-side reading session with the CIM Orchestra. Participants will attend performances by the CIM Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra, connecting their own development with the work of accomplished musicians. 

By bringing students together with artists, educators, coaches, and peers, the Residency will help participants build meaningful relationships while practicing the reflection, planning, and problem-solving skills that support continued growth beyond the four-day experience. 

The Scales to Success Residency reflects CIM’s ongoing commitment to empowering classical music students to fulfill their potential. Through this partnership with Equity Arc, CIM will contribute its faculty expertise, learning environment, and student community to a developmental experience that helps emerging musicians navigate the path toward advanced study and professional opportunities. 

More information and application details can be found here.