CIM Community Concert Sells Out

On Friday, March 28, 2014, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra will return to Severance Hall for the fourth time this season--but they won't be alone!

This special Friday night concert at the Home of The Cleveland Orchestra, titled "A Celebration of Community," will feature Beethoven's legendary 9th Symphony performed by members of the community for members of the community.

Conducted by CIM President Joel Smirnoff, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra will be joined by CIM vocalists, instrumentalists and chorus members from Cleveland School of the Arts, The Singers' Club of Cleveland, Antioch Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and the Western Reserve Chorale. Special guest artists soprano Catheryne Shuman, mezzo-soprano Samantha Gossard, tenor Vinson Cole and baritone Brian Johnson will round out this enormous concert roster.

"Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony has been performed throughout the world as a symbol of community ever since its premiere in May 1824," explains President Joel Smirnoff in a personal note the audience included in the evening's program that invites the audience to "savor these moments in Severance Hall as our community gathers together to find meaning at the end of a work day in a symphony based on life’s culture, life’s tragedy and life’s joy."

While the stage will be filled from edge to edge with talented musicians sharing Beethoven's universal message of joy and brotherhood, the hall will be packed from floor to golden ceiling with appreciative members of the community.  For those not lucky enough to have procured a ticket, this second (bi-annual) community concert will be broadcast live on WCLV 104.9 FM, streaming on wclv.org, beginning at 8pm EDT.