Outreach

Cleveland Chamber Music Society conducts a variety of outreach projects to develop the appreciation of music, and to share the excitement of chamber music with the Cleveland and nearby communities.

SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Since 2007, the Cleveland Chamber Music Society, in collaboration with students and faculty from the Cleveland Institute of Music, has sponsored a music program to introduce chamber music to Cleveland area public schools.

In support of its mission to promote chamber music, CCMS developed an School Outreach Program directed by Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet and performed by a fourth-year student quartet, coached by the Cavani Quartet at CIM. With funds provided by the Society, the program was created with the following goals:

● Provide high quality live chamber music performances to local school districts, creating an educational and artistically enriching experience for Cleveland and suburban schoolchildren. Over 10,000 grade school children have been exposed to the power of classical music in the seven years of the program.

● Stimulate children’s interest in the world of chamber music, and demonstrate the fun of learning an instrument.

● Enhance the professional training of a student ensemble by hiring them to create and perform a program designed for school children, including a wide variety of repertoire and interaction with the audience. This is also an opportunity for the CIM ensemble to perform in a far different venue than the concert hall and encourages their development as young artists and communicators.

● Meet the mission of the Cleveland Chamber Music Society – a commitment to share one of the most dynamic and moving of all the art forms, chamber music, with audiences of all ages.

Children see how musicians work together in a respectful and communicative environment. The programs are energetic and interactive, designed to introduce the instruments and the performers through concepts of teamwork and creative listening.

Concerts introducing music from the standard chamber music repertoire take place in Cleveland, East Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and Cleveland Heights, and other area schools, and are always well received by students, teachers, and administrators. Students are given a brief history and introduction to major composers including Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Debussy, and Bartok. Evaluation forms from students and teachers following concerts are extremely positive and express the students' enthusiasm for these types of programs, the music they are introduced to, and their eagerness to take up an instrument if given the opportunity.

CCMS identified a hunger in the schools for fine music and the Society is doing what it can to make up for the lack of arts education in the public school system.

If your school would like to become part of this exceptional program, please contact our office at 216.291.2777 or email us at info@clevelandchambermusic.org.

YOUTH CHAMBER MUSIC CHALLENGE

In addition to bringing chamber music to early childhood education programs, Cleveland Chamber Music Society provides opportunities for teenagers in local high schools to share their talents and love for chamber music in an annual competition. This "battle of the classical music bands" occurs in the Spring and brings together young musicians from across Northeast Ohio to learn, share, and grow musically. 

In addition to a modest money prize for the winners' school music program, the YCMC encourages playing and studying chamber music by providing the teen students support, judging feedback, a performance venue, and an audience.

This year's event took place March 18, 2018.

Youth Chamber Music Challenge 4  (YCMC 4)

It wasn’t a battle of the bands!  It was a battle of the high school chamber music ensembles.  Thirteen talented high-school musicians competed in the fourth annual Youth Chamber Music Challenge (YCMC 4) held March 18, 2018.  The First Place winners were the Hudson High School String Quartet, Ayano Nakamura, violin, Maria Zou, violin, Darren Huang, viola, Rachelle Larivee, cello.  The "battle of the chamber music ensembles" was held at the Lyndhurst Community Presbyterian Church on Sunday, 18 March, 2018.

This annual YCMC high school competition is sponsored by the Cleveland Chamber Music Society.(www.ClevelandChamberMusic.org).  Previous years winner include the Cleveland School for the Arts trumpet trio, Solon High School string quartet and a woodwind quartet from the Aurora School of Music.  St. Joseph’s Academy, Brush High School and  Beachwood High School have also competed in this event.

The audience warmly applauded winners--and all the contestants--for their skill and hard work.  Each of the ensemble members received a certificate of excellence and tickets to the remaining concerts sponsored by the Cleveland Chamber Music Society.  Also, thanks to an anonymous patron, all competitors received gift cards for their participation. The Challenge winners also received a $250 cash prize for their school’s music department and a first place trophy engraved with their names and the name of their instrumental director. 

The YCMC was created in 2014 by Dr. Melvin Arnoff, pianist, music educator, professor of education emeritus at Kent State University and a director with the Cleveland Chamber Music Society.   Strong support has been given to YCMC by Society president, Richard Fried and director David Richardson.  The reception that followed the Challenge featured gourmet quality home baked cookies and cakes prepared by master baker, Barbara Green.

For more information, please contact our office at 216.291.2777 or email us at info@clevelandchambermusic.org.