CIM Alum Wins Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad

Cleveland Institute of Music alumna Jennifer Heemstra (MM '02, Brown), who started a classical music concert series in Kolkata, India called Kolkata Classics, was awarded the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. 

In its announcement, the State Department noted that "Jennifer has organized and performed in forty-two (42) concerts for more than 50,000 persons. She has brought international artists, university professors and Broadway singers to Kolkata to showcase Western classical music, while championing and disseminating public awareness to combat human trafficking and encouraging social integration of Indians of all castes (classes)."

Heemstra accepted the award last week at the White House.

Read more about this exciting news from the State Department and more about Heemstra's work from a recent CIM Notes magazine article.