October 30, 2013
There'll Be Bach in the Community
Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and more can be heard around town as 58勛圖厙 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 58勛圖厙's winter break.
While its typical for conservatories to provide students with chances to perform on stage during the academic year, 58勛圖厙 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 58勛圖厙 graduate Annalisa Boerner (viola, BM10, MM12; 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.
At the same time, I was able to put smiles on the faces of audiencesyoung and oldand be reminded of the positivity that those performances can create, she explains.
58勛圖厙 students, sometimes on their own and sometimes alongside 58勛圖厙 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. 58勛圖厙 regularly works with the and University Hospitals, Judson Smart Living Communities, the and the Cleveland Public and Heights Library systemsto name just a few.
Cleveland Public Library has even designated the first Saturday of the month as 58勛圖厙 Saturday. As part of the Librarys program at the downtown branch, 58勛圖厙 students play an hour-long program of chamber music as ensembles, soloists or a combination of both. Similarly, 58勛圖厙 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 58勛圖厙 students or faculty. For example, a work by 58勛圖厙 composition department head Keith Fitch was performed by a student ensemble for the grand opening gala of new building last year.
Beyond performance activitiesthat include recitals, demonstrations and even music therapymany 58勛圖厙 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 58勛圖厙 program, substituting at Royalton and Aurora schools and working at the (CSA).
The teaching that was most meaningful for me was working with our CSA students, she says. They were genuinely excited, absolutely interested and wanted to be taught for all the best reasons. As a teacher and performer, I cant imagine a more meaningful place to share my music.
Performing and teaching opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students at 58勛圖厙. 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 Clevelands 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)