The CIM Advantage: Alumni report chronicles record success

One need not live in Cleveland to witness the advantage of a degree and training from the Cleveland Institute of Music. One only need live near a major concert hall.  

For proof, consider the latest report on CIM alumni job appointments, below. Almost everywhere great music was made in the last 12 months, CIM graduates won jobs, including prominent positions.  

“There’s a reason the world’s most talented young musicians consistently choose a CIM education,” said Paul W. Hogle, President & CEO of CIM. “CIM prepares students for the world stage and the world’s greatest ensembles. Simply put: the CIM advantage prioritizes students achieving the careers of their dreams.”  

Over the course of the past 12 months, CIM graduates won nearly 100 job appointments ranging from orchestra positions and seats in chamber music ensembles to a wide array of academic and administrative posts. 

Cleveland graduates winning auditions hailed from all over the U.S. and around the world and included degree holders from CIM’s undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs as well as graduates of CIM’s Young Artist Program, Robinson Orchestral Career Fellowship and Artist Diploma and Professional Studies tracks. 

Among the many appointments were positions in the famous “Big Five” orchestras of Cleveland, Boston and New York, as well as the internationally esteemed orchestras of Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, Seattle and Kansas City. Together, these groups represent the vanguard of classical music and the nation’s cultural beacons.  

CIM alumni also won positions in respected chamber music ensembles and earned faculty appointments at celebrated colleges, universities or conservatories. Others found success behind the scenes, landing administrative positions with leading orchestras and performing arts institutions.  

All of these appointments join the throng of CIM alumni populating the world of music since the school’s founding in 1920. At home in Ohio, well over half of the musicians in The Cleveland Orchestra are connected to CIM as members of the faculty, alumni or both, while 20 percent of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is connected to CIM as alumni. Worldwide, CIM graduates routinely go on to command the most celebrated stages, compose impactful new music, and produce award-winning recordings.  

“These new hires are further examples of CIM's uncommon ability to shape the future of classical music,” said Scott Harrison, CIM’s Executive Vice President & Provost.  

“Every one of them bears out our standard of artistry and intellect and proves that we are serious about our pledge to help the world’s finest music students fulfill their dreams and potential. A degree from CIM can open any musical door.” 

ALUMNI JOB APPOINTMENTS SINCE JUNE 2022 

A list of recent alumni appointments is below, in alphabetical order. Please note that several names could not be included, as their appointments are recent and have not been announced publicly. Individual photos are available upon request.

VIOLIN

• Brian Allen (BM ’16, MM ’17, Laredo/Preucil), temporary violin, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 
• Asher Blackburn (BM, O. Kaler), first violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Kaylee Bontrager (BM, Lee/Setzer), first violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Arianna Brusubardis (MM, I. Kaler), violin, Kansas City Symphony 
• Victoria Gelman (2021-22, I. Kaler), first violin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 
• Kimia Ghaderi (MM ’15, Preucil), assistant principal second violin, Grand Rapids Symphony 
• Jisoo Kim (BM ’23, I. Kaler), second violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Minju Kim (BM ’09, MM ’11, Kantor), assistant professor of violin, Boston University School of Music 
• Alina Kobialka (BM ’20, MM ’21, I. Kaler), violin, New York Philharmonic 
• Konrad Kowal (BM ’20, MM ’21, DMA, O. Kaler/Lowe), concertmaster, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Victoria Lewis (MM ’15, Kwuon), assistant concertmaster, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion 
• Ashley Odom (MM ’20, O. Kaler), first violin, Nashville Symphony 
• Timothy Peters (BM ’01, Preucil), associate concertmaster, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra 
• Jessica Ryou (MM ’14, Preucil), first violin, North Carolina Symphony 
• Jessica Schmidt Bergeron (MM ’20, Kwuon), associate principal second violin, Erie Philharmonic 
• Michael Siess (BM ’17, Preucil), first violin, Pacific Symphony 
• Genevieve Smelser (BM ’17, Rose), first violin, The Cleveland Orchestra 
• Carina Yee (MM, Lee/Setzer), second violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Patrick Yim (BM ’12, MM ’14, Preucil/Updegraff), assistant professor of violin, University of Notre Dame 
• Cristian Zimmerman (BM ’16, MM ’18, Sloman/Updegraff), first violin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 

VIOLA  

• Alex Antonio (BM ’23, Irvine/Ramsey), viola, Virginia Symphony Orchestra  
• Susan Bengtson Price (BM ’16, Irvine), viola, KAIA String Quartet, and adjunct viola professor, Carthage College 
• Eric Cheng (PS ’23, Collins/Konopka), viola, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Matthew Cohen (BM ’11, Irvine), viola, Formosa Quartet 
• Colin Henley (MM ’22, Konopka), viola, CityMusic Cleveland 
• Gordan Liu (MM, Ramsey), acting principal viola, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Cristina Micci-Barreca (BM ’21, MM ’23, Irvine/Ramsey), viola, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera 
• Gabriel Napoli (MM ’19, Jackobs/Vernon), viola, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 
• Christine Sherlock (BM ’10, Irvine), principal viola, Great Falls Symphony 
• Tyler Sieh (BM ’04, PS ’06, Jackobs/Ramsey), associate principal viola, Omaha Symphony  
• Chloé Thominet (YAP ’13, BM ’16, Irvine), temporary viola, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 

CELLO  

• Kyle Anderson (BM ’17, Robinson), cello, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
• Joanna Blendulf (BM ’94, Harris), professor of music, Indiana University 
• Jessamyn Fry (BM ’21, Kraut), cello, Delaware Symphony Orchestra 
• Daniel Kaler (BM ’20, Kosower), cello, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 
• Karim Maggio (BM, Kraut), cello, Canton Symphony Orchestra 
• Benjamin Mekinulov (BM, Kraut), principal cello, Charleston Symphony 
• Samuel Sykes (BM ’23, Kraut), cello, Canton Symphony Orchestra  
• Sæunn Thorsteinsdottir (BM ’06, Aaron), artist in residence, Iceland Symphony Orchestra 
• Nora Willauer (MM ’20, PS ’22, DMA, Geber/Kosower/Kraut), adjunct cello faculty, The University of Akron 

DOUBLE BASS  

• Stephen Castiglione (BM ’21, Dixon), principal double bass, West Michigan Symphony 
• Drew Collins (2018-22, Zadinsky), double bass, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 
• Gerald Torres (PS ’11, Bradetich/Dimoff), double bass, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 

WOODWINDS  

• Jaren Atherholt (BM ’04, Mack), assistant professor of oboe, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville  
• Jessica Chancey (BM ’21, Fink), flute/piccolo, Louisville Orchestra 
• Gunnar Owen Hirthe (PS ’13, Cohen), solo clarinet, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble 
• Nathan Hughes (BM ’98, Mack), principal oboe, Minnesota Orchestra 
• Mark Huskey (BM ’13, Smith), flute, US Naval Academy Band 
• Lauren Keating (MM ’18, Rathbun), English horn, Naples Philharmonic and New Mexico Philharmonic 
• Alex Liedtke (BM ’12, Camus), assistant principal oboe, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
• Kelly Mozeik (BM ’12, Rosenwein), principal oboe, Charleston Symphony 
• James Romeo (MM ’12, Smith), piccolo, Dallas Symphony Orchestra 
• Melissa Scott (MM ’08, Rathbun/Rosenwein), oboe, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, and second oboe, Grant Park Orchestra 
• Brendon Sill (MM ’20, Clouser), bassoon, New World Symphony 
• Samuel Watson (2020-22, Stees), contrabassoon, Boston Symphony Orchestra 

BRASS 

• Meghan Guegold Hege (MM ’10, King), horn, The Cleveland Orchestra 
• Kevin Karabell (PS ’18, Miller), principal trumpet, Jacksonville Symphony 
• Daniel Lewis (MM ’11, Sachs), trumpet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 
• Zachary Litty (MM ’22, AD, Hawes), bass trombone, Toledo Symphony 
• Micah Northam (BM, King), principal horn, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

PERCUSSION 

• James Leonard (BM ’22, Damoulakis/Yancich), percussion, Greenville Symphony 
• Peter Nichols (BM ’19, Damoulakis/Yancich), timpani, Toledo Symphony 
• Kevin Ritenauer (MM ’18, Damoulakis), percussion, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 

HARP 

• Emily Carpenter (MM ’22, Kondonassis), adjunct professor of harp, Oklahoma City University 
• Meredith Clark (MM ’10, Kondonassis), solo/principal harp, Royal Swedish Opera 
• Grace Roepke (BM ’19, MM ’21, AD ’23, Kondonassis), principal harp, Louisville Orchestra 

KEYBOARD  

• Constance Bergmann, Oakton College Six Piano Ensemble 
• Michelle Cann (BM ’09, MM ’10, Schenly/D. Shapiro), piano faculty, Manhattan School of Music 
• Hannah Koby (MM ’20, Wilson), contributing faculty in organ, Dickinson College 
• Sol Rizzato (MM ’23, Wilson), lead technician and tonal associate, Muller Pipe Organ Company 
• Michael Schaner (MM ’12, Wilson), university organist, organ professor and collaborative keyboard artist, Carroll University 
• Anne Waltner (DMA ’10, AD ’11, Pontremoli/Radosavljevich), principal keyboard, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Sioux City Symphony Orchestra 
• Eric Wicks (BM ’01, MM ’03, Wilson), organ faculty, Colorado College 

VOICE  

• Bethany Mamola (MM ’13, Schiller), assistant teaching professor of vocal studies, Emory University 
• Tyler Evatt-Young (DMA ’22, Southern), visiting assistant professor of voice, Appalachian State University 
• Jeremy Frank (MM ’99, Pastor), chorus director, LA Opera 

CONDUCTING  

• Mélisse Brunet (PS ’12, Topilow), music director, Lexington Philharmonic 
• Duo Shen (PS ’22, Parameswaran/Topilow), assistant conductor, Grand Rapids Symphony 
• Yun Song Tay (MM ’18, Topilow), music director, Golden State Youth Orchestra 
• Sunny Xia (BM ’19, MM ’20, Sloman/Topilow), associate conductor, Seattle Symphony 
• John Young Shik Concklin (2010-11, Topilow), music director, Spartanburg Philharmonic 

COMPOSITION 

• Mark Nowakowski (PS ’08, Brouwer/Schoenfeld), associate professor of music, Kent State University 

ADMINISTRATIVE  

• Nishana Dobbeck (MM ’11, Bradetich/Dimoff), assistant librarian, The Metropolitan Opera 
• Elizabeth Etter (MM ’90, DMA ’99, Ceasar/Epstein), executive director, Kingston Chamber Music Festival 
• Ryan Finefrock (MM ’14, Clouser), personnel assistant, The Cleveland Orchestra 
• Deanna Hoying (BM ’86, Schmitter/Solis), executive director, Symphony New Hampshire 
• Peter Kjome (BM ’89, Mack), president and CEO, The Phoenix Symphony 
• Rachel Kribbs (MM ’09, Clouser), director of new business, The FORM Group 
• Ted Nelson (MM ’97, Harris), vice president of operations and artistic planning, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance 
• Anne Rodda (MM ’91, Harris), director, Michael Hill International Violin Competition