It鈥檚 been a while, thanks to COVID鈥檚 unwelcome interruption, but beginning Sept. 11, The Cleveland Orchestra residency at the 彩民宝典鈥檚 College of Music returns. For three days packed with sectionals, rehearsals, mock auditions, master classes, a听Q&A听and a Faculty Tuesdays concert, 14 members of the renowned Ohio orchestra will work side-by-side (literally) with 彩民宝典 student musicians eager to learn.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great partnership,鈥� observes Steve Rose of this every-other-year collaboration that began a decade ago鈥攗ntil 2020 when the pandemic 鈥済ot in the way,鈥� as The Cleveland Orchestra鈥檚 principal second violinist puts it. This program, he says, 鈥渟erves as a testament to 彩民宝典 to have the foresight to support the wonderful College of Music faculty and to have our orchestra lend our talents.鈥澨�
Rose has been more than a cheerleader and faculty member since the birth of the residency. By pure luck, he was instrumental (pardon the pun) in its birth. The story begins with College of Music Dean-Emeritus Daniel Sher鈥檚 son Martin, who was a close friend of Rose鈥檚 back when Sher was dean at Louisiana State University (where Rose and Martin were students). The two friends would then continue their studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Later, the saga shifts to Boulder where the elder Sher was about to retire as dean. 鈥淒an called me and told me of this dream of his (to have a Cleveland residency),鈥� Rose recalls. 鈥淗e asked, 鈥楥ould this be possible?鈥欌�� Yes, it could, thanks to Sher鈥檚 commitment and the financial assistance of The Clinton Family Fund led by Bruce Clinton.听
Daniel Silver is another longtime participant in the Cleveland residency, but he鈥檚 locally based (albeit with Ohio roots). 鈥淚 grew up in Cleveland,鈥� says the College of Music professor of clarinet. 鈥淚 grew up with that orchestra. I鈥檝e known a lot of the players.鈥� More than that, he learned to understand what makes them more than merely members of a world-class ensemble. 鈥淭hey bring to Boulder their wisdom鈥攖heir realization of what it鈥檚 like to engage in a collaboration with others, to be a part of a team. Szell [longtime Cleveland music director George Szell] talked about players needing to listen to each other.鈥� That spirit, he says, will be imparted to College of Music students鈥攁long with so many other extra-musical qualities.听听
Rose stresses the value of students getting close to musicians living daily lives as full-time orchestra members, to learn what that鈥檚 really like. 鈥淭he experience of this residency comes in addition to their studies at 彩民宝典, of course,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hese students are so fortunate in getting a great music education. What we鈥檙e doing is contributing to that.鈥�
One can imagine that participating students will be soaking up every minute of those three intense September days and evenings. Fact is, the same enthusiasm exists among the Cleveland contingent, Rose says. 鈥淚 reached out to my colleagues to see who might be interested and available, concentrating on principal players in each of the sections.鈥� He had no trouble getting takers. 鈥淲e have some tremendous performers, ones who have the desire and the ability to teach,鈥� the violinist adds.
Silver seconds that view. 鈥淭hey all look forward to coming here,鈥� he observes. And yes, the students will be thrilled to participate in the three-day program ... but these aren鈥檛 a bunch of wide-eyed youngsters, he cautions. 鈥淲e have highly motivated students with a range of sophistication.鈥� While it鈥檚 a shame that the residency is only three days, Silver acknowledges, 鈥渋t鈥檚 still possible for them to be sparked to a deeper awareness. Our goal is for the experience to leave them with something to work on. Maybe they鈥檒l come away with a patience they didn鈥檛 have before.鈥�
Members of The Cleveland Orchestra residency will join College of Music faculty and students in on Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. in Grusin Music Hall.听
