CIM Mourns Loss of Beloved Faculty Member

Ron Bishop, Cleveland Institute of Music tuba Faculty Emeritus and retired member of The Cleveland Orchestra, passed away on July 25, 2013 after a long illness. He was 78.

“Our dear Ron Bishop, who had battled heroically during the past few years, finally lost his battle and passed away yesterday,” said CIM President Joel Smirnoff in a statement. “First tuba of so many years for The Cleveland Orchestra and a 45-year member of our faculty, Ron was loved and respected by all as someone who selflessly dedicated his life to music, to his students and to their success. He was at once a mentor and a colleague, someone who could guide and yet also nurture.”

Just this spring, CIM recognized Mr. Bishop for his many contributions to the school and to music by bestowing upon him the title Faculty Emeritus at the 2013 Convocation ceremonies.

“We will all remember and miss Ron,” said CIM Conservatory Dean Adrian Daly. “I feel truly honored to have known Ron, he was an amazing, caring individual, a gentleman, a mentor to us all. It was impossible not to be impressed with Ron, his love of CIM and the people here, and most of all, his commitment to his students. Ron is the standard to which we can all aspire as we go about our daily lives.”

In addition to his time as a CIM faculty member and the principal tuba for The Cleveland Orchestra, the Grammy Award-winning Mr. Bishop held positions with Severance Brass Quintet, Cleveland Low Brass Ensemble and Cleveland Symphonic Winds. He also performed as a member of the American Wind Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera, and in the U.S. Army Field Band. A renowned pedagogue, he was appointed to the CIM faculty in 1968 and held additional faculty appointments at Baldwin Wallace University, the Eastman School of Music, Oberlin College, San Francisco State College and Youngstown State University.

At CIM’s Convocation this past May, Michael Sachs, head of CIM’s brass division and Cleveland Orchestra principal trumpet said, “Every brass student who has come to CIM over the past four decades has been the recipient of Ron’s warmth, humor and expert guidance. His expertise as a teacher is reflected in his many students who have gone on to success in our business. Ron’s legacy is the high standard he has set for all of us to follow.”

Read more about Mr. Bishop in a statement made during CIM's 2013 Convocation Ceremonies.

Watch a video of Mr. Bishop receiving a lifetime achievement award from the International Tuba Euphonium Association at the annual conference held in Tucson, Arizona in May 2010.