Susan A. Rothmann unanimously elected to fourth term as Board Chair at CIM 2023 Annual Meeting

One of the most successful chapters in CIM history has drawn to a close. At the same time, another has just begun.  

At their 2023 Annual Meeting Wednesday, CIM’s leaders celebrated the impressive results of Blueprint:100, the school’s recently completed centennial plan. The same gathering also saw the revelation of an inspiring, collective vision for the next five years. 

At the Board of Trustees meeting which followed, attendees unanimously elected Susan A. Rothmann to a fourth term as Board Chair. Paul Hogle, Scott Harrison, and Brian Foss also were re-elected as Executive Officers of the Institute consistent with their continuing roles as President & CEO, Executive Vice President & Provost, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. 

“CIM is as well positioned as it has ever been,” said Hogle. “As the Board's direction was executed with high sensitivity, integrity, and strategic intent, we relentlessly pursued the requirements of Blueprint:100, transforming ourselves into the model of a modern American conservatory. Our foundation for a thriving future is strong.” 

A large group that included Trustees, Governing Members, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members convened in Mixon Hall Wednesday and reviewed CIM’s progress since 2018, when it charted the bold path to the school’s centennial known as Blueprint:100. Guiding CIM on this path were the school’s mission, vision, and values as well as its Institutional Learning Goals. 

The plan set forth clear, measurable objectives in the areas of Tuition & Capitalization; Learning & Performance Environment; Preparatory & Continuing Education; Student Housing; Pianos; Diversity; Outcomes; and CIM’s ongoing Second Century Campaign.  

Among the many accomplishments cited under those categories:   

• Major new scholarship gifts for nearly 50 students  

• Construction and purchase of 1609 Hazel, CIM’s high-tech residential and rehearsal complex  

• $25 million raised in endowment, scholarship, and capital support, including endowment assets growth of $10 million  

• $2.25 million investment in CIM’s physical property  

• Launch of the Academy at CIM and Musical Pathway Fellowship  

• Three new-to-CIM concert grand pianos, including a new Steinway & Sons Model D for Mixon Hall  

• Five-fold increase in racial diversity among students and in featured repertoire  

• Appointments of CIM alumni at hundreds of major orchestras, chamber music ensembles, and institutions of higher learning  

• Unanimous endorsement by Trustees of the Kulas Hall renovation project 

But the meeting was much more than a document review. In addition to remarks by Hogle, Rothmann, and Governing Members Chair Bruce Hearey, the assembly also heard testimonials from alumni, students, community members, and donors who experienced or contributed to the success of Blueprint:100 firsthand.  

Specifically, guests heard recorded commentary from conductor and frequent CIM Orchestra guest JoAnn Falletta; pianist, champion of musical diversity, and alumna Michelle Cann (BM ’09, MM ’10, Schenly/D. Shapiro); several students in CIM’s thriving Academy; and Irad Carmi (BM ’87, MM ’88) and Rebecca Carmi (BM ’87, MM ’89), CIM graduates whose recent scholarship contribution of $300,000 completed one of CIM’s largest gifts from alumni.  

Cann, speaking about facilities and pianos, praised CIM’s investment in 1609 Hazel, the school’s new high-tech residential and rehearsal complex. 

“Essentially what you’re getting if you’re off campus is what you’re getting in a dorm,” she said. “What this is doing for these students now...this is everything they need.”  

The Carmis, meanwhile, addressed philanthropy, noting the significant role CIM played in their lives and the joy they’ve taken in “paying it forward” in the form of scholarship support.  

“Almost everywhere you go, you or people around you benefit from the generosity of some other people who were there before and gave something,” Irad Carmi said. “It was very clear to us as we grew up that we are part of that cycle...CIM has definitely provided us a rewarding experience being supporters of the institution.”    

Some of the most affecting words came not from administrators or alumni but from participants in CIM’s illustrious Academy, which fosters complete musicians with training in music theory, chamber music, and regular performance opportunities.  

“There’s a sense of teamwork and everyone is working together to achieve the same goals,” said one student. “They make it easy to do hard things,” said another.  

While much of the 2023 Annual Meeting centered on Blueprint:100, a portion also was devoted to the future. With his remarks following the videos, Hogle further energized the assembly by foreshadowing Blueprint:2029, a vision of where CIM is headed, and extended invitations to participate in the new planning process. 

Though in development, Blueprint:2029 will reflect the priorities of faculty, staff, alumni, Trustees, Governing Members, and administrative thought-leaders, expressed over the course of robust group discussions, surveys, and interviews conducted throughout 2022, 2023, and 2024.  

These priorities include:  

• Outcomes: Recruit, develop, educate, and graduate musicians who consistently earn top careers in classical music. 

• Moonshot: Affirm and articulate the 2024-29 benchmarks, metrics, and requirements of the “tuition-free within a decade” journey. 

• People: Plan and prepare for the inevitable succession of key academic, artistic, Trustee, and administrative leadership. 

• Courageous Conversations: Engage faculty, staff, and Trustees around best practices, contemporary research, and gathered feedback in pursuit of shared ideals for institutional culture and governance. 

• Center of Innovation: Infuse and develop in CIM’s governance, education, and operational enterprises the disciplines of innovation, flexibility, and agility. 

• Transforming the Business Model: Reduce CIM’s reliance on orchestral study conservatory tuition and increase reliance on philanthropy, Preparatory & Public Programs, Joint Music Program, and other net income streams. 

 

ALUMNI AWARDS 

Another highlight of CIM’s 2023 Annual Meeting was the announcement of the school’s 2024 Alumni Awards, which are granted every May at Commencement.  

In his remarks to the assembly Wednesday, Hogle revealed that the honorees next year will be Paul Yancich (BM ’75, Duff/Weiner), the longtime principal timpanist of The Cleveland Orchestra, for the Distinguished Alumni Award; and pianist Mahani Teave (MM ’06, Babayan/Schenly), for the Alumni Achievement Award. 

“Nothing highlights CIM’s commitment or track record more effectively than the lives and careers of former students,” Hogle said, in announcing the winners.  

  

TRUSTEES 

Also on Wednesday, CIM Trustees elected the class of 2026 and recognized retiring Trustees and those who passed away this year.  

The following Trustees were elected to three-year terms:  

• Stephen P. Ban 

• Daniel J. Brown 

• Irad Carmi 

• Bonnie M. Cook 

• Charles P. Cooley, III 

• Trent M. Meyerhoefer 

• Marilyn Sanders Mobley 

• Susan A. Rothmann 

• Donna M. Sciarappa 

• Joseph H. Thomas 

 

With great appreciation for their service, CIM thanked the following Trustees and ex-officio Trustees who have retired from or rotated off the Board in the past year: 

• Carl E. Baldassarre, Sr.  

• Charles A. Bittenbender 

• Robert Geho 

• Gary W. Poth 

• Astri Seidenfeld 

• Tracy A. Vigh 

 

Two of these Trustees also were appointed as Trustees Emeriti: Charles Bittenbender and Astri Seidenfeld. 

 

Finally, all those gathered reflected on those members of the CIM community who passed away in 2023, with a performance by student violinist Yumiko Yumiba. 

For detailed information about CIM’s many other successes in 2023 – in the areas of recruitment, new faculty and guest artists, alumni outcomes, and philanthropy – please visit cim.edu/advantage.