October 30, 2013
There'll Be Bach in the Community
Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and more can be heard around town as xxxx视频 musicians play community outreach concerts throughout Northeast Ohio. Just a couple months into the school year and students have already performed dozens of recitals with many, many more planned before Thanksgiving and xxxx视频's winter break.
While its typical for conservatories to provide students with chances to perform on stage during the academic year, xxxx视频 offers student musicians a plethora of opportunities to also play outside standard concert halls--thanks to an expansive Community Outreach program that books as many as 300 events a year.
Recent xxxx视频 graduate Annalisa Boerner (viola, BM鈥10, MM鈥12; pictured above, far right) credits the program with helping her prepare for professional auditions, saying that she learned to perform in all sorts of environments with difference audiences and that these concerts played a crucial role in improving her ability to play under pressure.
鈥淎t the same time, I was able to put smiles on the faces of audiences鈥攜oung and old鈥攁nd be reminded of the positivity that those performances can create,鈥 she explains.
xxxx视频 students, sometimes on their own and sometimes alongside xxxx视频 alumni or faculty, may play two, three or more times a week as part of the program thanks to partnerships with prominent organizations throughout the area. xxxx视频 regularly works with the and University Hospitals, Judson Smart Living Communities, the and the Cleveland Public and Heights Library systems鈥攖o name just a few.
Cleveland Public Library has even designated the first Saturday of the month as xxxx视频 Saturday. As part of the Library鈥檚 program at the downtown branch, xxxx视频 students play an hour-long program of chamber music as ensembles, soloists or a combination of both. Similarly, xxxx视频 musicians regularly perform for Music at Coventry, Monday evening concerts at the just a couple miles from campus.
While the focus tends to be on traditional repertoire, students and alumni may also play programs featuring more contemporary compositions or even works by xxxx视频 students or faculty. For example, a work by xxxx视频 composition department head Keith Fitch was performed by a student ensemble for the grand opening gala of new building last year.
Beyond performance activities鈥攖hat include recitals, demonstrations and even music therapy鈥攎any xxxx视频 students participate in teaching and tutoring opportunities at local schools in traditional collegiate subjects and musical programs.
So, in addition to honing her performing and audition skills, Boerner gained teaching experience through the xxxx视频 program, substituting at Royalton and Aurora schools and working at the (CSA).
鈥淭he teaching that was most meaningful for me was working with our CSA students,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey were genuinely excited, absolutely interested and wanted to be taught for all the best reasons. As a teacher and performer, I can鈥檛 imagine a more meaningful place to share my music.鈥
Performing and teaching opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students at xxxx视频. Venues include the aforementioned libraries, museums and hospitals as well as senior living centers, residential communities, public gardens and parks, K-12 schools and more.
Sharing their musical gifts with appreciative audiences provides unique performance experiences for our students and enriches the lives of the community members for which they play. Our students find engaging with Cleveland鈥檚 communities personally rewarding and professionally beneficial. The events allow them to give back, while building their confidence as performers and developing professional skills and networking.
See also:
Westlake Observer (October 15, 2013)