CIM Student Isabelle Durrenberger Named 2017 Payne Fund Prize Winner

Cleveland Institute of Music sophomore Isabelle Durrenberger dazzled the CIM faculty judges with her flawless performance of Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto in CIM’s Fall Concerto Competition. Her exquisite presentation earned Ms. Durrenberger one of the coveted concerto performances with the CIM Orchestra, as well as the prestigious 2017 Payne Fund Prize, which provides a CIM student or recent alum the opportunity to perform a concerto with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

The Payne Fund was created in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio by the late Frances Payne Bolton and Chester Castle Bolton.  Mrs. Bolton was the first woman elected to Congress from Ohio when she assumed the congressional seat held by her husband after his death in 1939. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton utilized the Payne Fund to support causes which were important to them and in so doing they greatly enriched the lives of those living in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

The good work of the Payne Fund continues today through the Bolton family descendants, some of whom still call Cleveland their home. CIM has received generous grants from the Payne Fund for over 25 years in support of scholarships, concerts and events and for CIM’s last capital campaign “The Campaign for CIM.”

In furtherance of their commitment to support CIM’s outstanding students, the Bolton family created the “Payne Fund Prize” in 1998. Each year this prize is presented to a CIM student of remarkable talent, who in many cases has also been named a winner of CIM’s annual concerto competition.

The Payne Fund Prize includes a monetary stipend and also entitles the student to perform a concerto with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.  “The Bolton family’s extraordinary and on-going support of CIM students enhances the professional training of our young artists.  Each year, the Bolton family’s generous contribution provides one of our emerging young artists with a professional performance as the concerto soloist with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra; this is a remarkable experience for the student and CIM is extremely grateful for the Bolton family’s commitment to our students,” says Interim Dean Joyce Griggs.  Ms. Durrenberger is the 18th CIM student so honored with this prize.

Ms. Durrenberger, studies with CIM faculty Jaime Laredo and Jinjoo Cho. In high school, she was a preparatory student of Mr. Laredo and Joan Kwuon.  In 2015, Ms. Durrenberger attended the New York String Orchestra Seminar, which culminated in a performance at Carnegie Hall. As a member of the Verita Quartet, Ms. Durrenberger competed in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and in 2015, this ensemble won the silver medal in the 2015 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition. She has performed as a soloist with several orchestras including the Columbus Symphony, New Albany Symphony and the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra.  In 2014, Ms. Durrenberger was featured on NPR’s, From The Top as a soloist and chamber musician. Her Asheville Symphony Orchestra debut will take place on New Year’s Eve under its very capable conductor, Daniel Meyer.