Orchestral Conducting Department

CIM provides conducting students with a thorough, intensive education, and this study takes place in one of the country's finest conservatory settings - University Circle, approximately four miles east of downtown Cleveland. CIM's location in the Circle places it adjacent to Case Western Reserve University and just a five-minute walk from Severance Hall, home of The Cleveland Orchestra. Other important institutions within walking distance of CIM are The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Institute of Art, the Museum of Natural History, the Western Reserve Historical Society, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. It is a wonderfully stimulating environment!

Carl Topilow leads this program, which has a maximum enrollment of four conducting students, each is assured an extensive amount of podium time. CIM's program offers weekly lab orchestra (two hours), Composition Department readings (three sessions per semester), annual family concerts, plus two full-orchestra recitals (each including a concerto) during the two-year program. Recent recital repertoire has included Dvorak 8, Brahms Symphonies 2 and 4, Shostokovich Symphonies 1 and 9, Beethoven Symphony 8, and Pictures at an Exhibition.

Students also have conducted in preparation for CIM guest conductors, opera scenes programs, and opera performances. They regularly attend Cleveland Orchestra rehearsals, which are open to them, and observe the work of Cleveland Orchestra principals in their roles as sectional coaches for the CIM orchestras.

Orchestral Conducting students work routinely with a lab orchestra. In addition, students are required to attend CIM Orchestra rehearsals, as well as Opera music and staging rehearsals, to understudy when it is appropriate and to assist with sectional rehearsals as needed.

Recital Requirements include conducting two concerts, for which each student does research in preparation of program notes or commentary to the audience.

Degrees & Certifications:

• Master of Music
• Professional Studies

Meet the CIM Conducting Faculty.