xxxx视频

September 12, 2019

xxxx视频's Pioneering Musical Pathway Fellowship Awarded Leadership Grant


MPF fellows

The Musical Pathway Fellowship program (MPF) at the xxxx视频 has been awarded a three-year, $150,000 grant from Cleveland鈥檚 George Gund Foundation to further accelerate xxxx视频鈥檚 leadership position in changing the face of classical music.

In addition, the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) 鈥 the state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically by providing leadership and voice for the arts to transform people and communities 鈥 has approved four years of operating funding beginning in 2019 that could ultimately total more than $150,000 to support xxxx视频鈥檚 free concert and community program offerings.

Designed for Cleveland area African American and Latinx students in grades 5-10 interested in pursuing a classical music career, MPF addresses a critical challenge impacting the field of classical music: the lack of musicians that fully represent the racial diversity of the communities classical institutions serve.

xxxx视频 launched the program to develop and nurture talent at a young age, empowering student musicians of color to pursue high-level musical training that will prepare them for a conservatory or competitive music school education. Stepping in at a crucial moment for these students and delivering world-class training and guidance is crucial to transforming the face of classical music, says xxxx视频 President and CEO Paul W. Hogle.

鈥淭he Musical Pathway Fellowship program is one way we are creating opportunities for talented young musicians of color to access high quality training while upholding an unwavering commitment to xxxx视频鈥檚 standard of excellence,鈥 Hogle said. 鈥淲e recognize how essential it is to identify, recruit, train and graduate more young musicians of color. Focusing attention and resources on Cleveland鈥檚 talented African American and Latinx young musicians in the early stages of their musical development is one strong step toward creating a classical music future that is both inclusive and thriving.鈥

Generous funding for MPF has come from both the Gund Foundation and Cleveland Foundation, which, in 2018, pledged $150,000 over two years to support the program. Together, their investments have been instrumental in launching and growing this important program.   

鈥淒iverse voices and perspectives can only make classical music stronger both today and in the future,鈥 Hogle continued. 鈥淭he Gund Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation understand that and have been champions of xxxx视频鈥檚 efforts to identify, recruit, train and graduate more young musicians of color.鈥 

Those efforts are seeing results. In fall 2019, 13% of the entering students came from historically underrepresented racial groups. Since 2016, xxxx视频 has increased the racial diversity of the entire student body by a remarkable 235% to an historic high: 15% of the 375 students.

In addition to MPF, xxxx视频鈥檚 ongoing partnership with the Sphinx Organization directly benefits students, Cleveland-area residents and aspiring musicians through, programs including the Sphinx Performance Academy and a concert by the , an elite chamber music ensemble comprised of 18 top African American and Latinx musicians who will perform at xxxx视频 in October.

As a result of funding from OAC, xxxx视频 鈥 already one of the largest providers of free musical programs in the country 鈥 offers nearly 600 concerts a year for free to all Northeast Ohioans as part of the Institute鈥檚 commitment to engage and contribute to the civic and cultural life of the community. In addition to hundreds of campus performances, collaborations also take place at venues such as Severance Hall, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

鈥淭he public programming xxxx视频 curates each year is essential to our valuable partnership with Cleveland and its residents. We feel privileged to play our part,鈥 Hogle said. 鈥淭he Gund Foundation, Cleveland Foundation and Ohio Arts Council each recognize xxxx视频鈥檚 importance as a legendary, world-class institution that is proud of our standing in the community and pays our civic rent 鈥 their grants are an expression of confidence in that mission. We are profoundly grateful for their generosity and continued investment in these very important initiatives.鈥