May 18, 2022

Two sharp ideas prove spot-on in CIM’s ‘Imperfect Pitch’ entrepreneurship contest

Imperfect Pitch Co-Winners Julia Simpson and Sol Rizzato — Co-Winners Julia Simpson and Sol Rizzato

Julia Simpson and Sol Rizzato are graduate students at CIM, burgeoning masters of the oboe and organ. Both, though, are proud to possess “Imperfect Pitch.”

As the winners of CIM’s second annual entrepreneurship contest, both now have at least $2,500 to pursue their ideas for musical businesses.

“I am honored to be a grand prize winner,” said Rizzato (Wilson). “The connections made at this event will allow me to make my dream of transforming the pipe organ maintenance industry a reality.”

Rizzato and Simpson (Rosenwein) earned their prizes after presenting to four arts industry professionals at a special event May 5 at the Sears think[box], the nation’s largest open-access innovation center, at Case Western Reserve University.

Rizzato’s pitch, called “Next,” was for a comprehensive software program to aid in pipe organ maintenance. Simpson pitched “The Cadence Fund,” a nonprofit to help young artists cover costs associated with performing new music.

Imperfect Pitch Participants, Emcee, and Panelists — From L to R: emcee Mike Block (BM '04, Aaron), finalist Julia Simpson, finalist Abigail Tsai, finalist Andrew Shinn, panelist Jim McGuffin-Cawley, panelist Tiffany McNamara, panelist and CIM Trustee Michael Beedles, finalist Sol Rizzato, panelist Jeremy Johnson, and CIM provost Scott Harrison

Simpson and Rizzato edged out two others: cello undergraduate student Andrew Shinn (Kraut) and violin graduate student Abigail Tsai (I. Kaler). Shinn, however, won the $200 Audience Choice prize for his idea, “Classical Curious,” and Rizzato won the think[Box] Best Performance prize. All four had professional mentors.

“I think it was a new experience for many of them,” said Matthew Arnold, special assistant to the provost and the event’s organizer. “They may be performers, but they’re not necessarily speakers.”

Simpson, for her part, already has concrete plans. She intends to design a website and launch a Kickstarter campaign, using the proceeds to begin issuing grants. “The guidance I received…was fantastic, especially in the area of financial planning,” she said.

This is exactly the practical mentality the contest aspires to encourage, Arnold said. Many CIM graduates become performers. Many, though, choose to become arts leaders, and to that end, it helps to have “Imperfect Pitch.”

“We’re future-proofing our students, showing them there are many areas in music they can explore,” Arnold said.