CIM Black Student Union To Host Benefit Concert

Press release from CIM:

Oct. 6, 2020

The Black Student Union (BSU) of the Cleveland Institute of Music will present a live-streamed benefit concert on Sunday, October 18, at 4pm. This concert will feature CIM faculty — among them Jaime Laredo, Jessica Lee, Alicja Basinska, Shuai Wang, Sharon Robinson and Mark Jackobs — as well as various student artists of color currently studying at CIM.

The program will include works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Astor Piazzolla, Jessie Montgomery, William Grant Still and Florence Price. Additionally, CIM alumnus Julián Fueyo (BM ’20, Fitch) and current composition student Nathaniel Heyder (Fitch) will each have one of their works featured.

The concert livestream is free and open to the public. Donors of $20 or more ($5 or more for students) before the concert date will receive exclusive access to pre- and post-concert activities. Learn more at cim.edu/bsu-benefit.

“The CIM Black Student Union is extremely excited to present this afternoon of music to the community,” said BSU President Hollie Greenwood (double bass, Dixon). “Not only to celebrate the music of black and brown composers and performers alike, but also, to educate the community and give them a starting point to explore the realms of diverse classical music on their own.”

In Support of the Musical Pathway Fellowship
The Musical Pathway Fellowship (MPF) — sponsored by the Cleveland Foundation and George Gund Foundation — is designed for Black and Latinx students entering grades 5-10 who are interested in CIM’s Pre-College program and pursuing their studies and craft. Fellows receive a full scholarship covering all areas of study. The fellowship provides exceptional artistic training delivered by CIM faculty. MPF provides ongoing, multi-year support to students, including comprehensive music instruction through high school, with a goal of preparing them to enter a conservatory or university music program upon graduation.

More About the Concert
On Sunday, October 18, at 3pm, patrons who donate at least $20 will have access to join us for a pre-concert discussion that delves into the history and context of the compositions featured on the program. Additionally, patrons will have the opportunity to meet-and-greet with the performers as they’re stepping off stage.

Performed by:

• Jaime Laredo, violin
• Jessica Lee, violin
• Hosanna Carella, violin, student artist
• Julian Maddox, violin, student artist
• Pablo Sánchez, violin, student artist
• Mark Jackobs, viola
• Colin Henley, viola, student artist
• Breanna Lang, viola, student artist
• Jerome McCoy, viola, student artist
• Marcus Stevenson, viola, student artist
• Sharon Robinson, cello
• Joseph Brown, cello, student artist
• Chad Polk, cello, student artist
• Samantha Powell, cello, student artist
• Hollie Greenwood, double bass, student artist
• Alicja Basinska, piano
• Shuai Wang, piano
• Matias Cuevas, piano, student artist

This press release was produced by CIM. The views expressed here are the author's own.