Where will a CIM education take you?

From orchestral musicians to soloists and composers, CIM alumni are living the dream of a life in music.

Check out the CIM Newsroom or explore the accordions below to learn more about our alumni.

Chamber Musicians
aeolus quartet
Aeolus Quartet: Jia Kim, Nicholas Tavani (BM '09, Preucil), Rachel Shapiro (BM '09, Cerone/Russell), Cailtin Lynch (AD '13, Vernon)

CIM's chamber music faculty members promote a nurturing environment that emphasizes collaboration. Ensembles receive valuable hands-on experience by participating in CIM's community enrichment programs — performing live music and engaging with audiences at local museums, schools, senior centers and hospitals. With this foundation, CIM graduates go on to join or form nationally recognized, critically acclaimed and award-winning ensembles.

The following list provides a representation of ensembles whose current or former members have studied chamber music at CIM.

Composers
jerod tate
Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, composer (Photo: Shevaun Williams)

Composition has been an important part of our curriculum since our founding. Our New Music program focuses on helping composers find their voice, teaching them how to write dynamic, sophisticated and meaningful music while also developing orchestration skills and portfolios. Our graduates go on to study at other prestigious institutions; earn awards, commissions and fellowships. They pursue a variety of career options from composing new repertoire that will be performed in concerts to scoring films, television shows or video games.

CIM students and alumni have been accepted to or invited to attend; recognized by or won awards from; appointed as faculty for or commissioned to compose works by the following:

The following are CIM alumni who are working or have worked in the industry:

orchestra and symphony musicians
wesley collins
Wesley Collins (BM '07, Vernon), principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra 

Most of our faculty members are professional musicians with rich and diverse histories. Many are members of The Cleveland Orchestra, while others perform with or conduct other local symphonies or ensembles. Our students have unprecedented access to The Cleveland Orchestra, and we regularly welcome internationally recognized visiting artists to coach or guest conduct our students. As a result, many take orchestra jobs while finishing their studies at CIM or win appointments soon after graduation.

The following is a representative list of the organizations with which our alumni work:

voice and opera singers
renee richardson
Renée Richardson (PS '18, Schiller), AVA Resident Artist, Houston Grand Opera Studio Artist

Our voice program is all about balance. We teach an Italian method of singing (Bel Canto) that focuses on free, unforced sound known for its beauty, balance and seamlessness of tones. Equilibrium in enrollment is key to our students' success. The department must be small enough to ensure that all faculty know all students and large enough to support fully staged, costumed opera productions — an important training ground for singers and orchestral musicians alike. Our graduates go on to succeed in a variety of vocal careers as singers, coaches, choral directors or working behind the scenes at opera companies around the world.

The following is a representative list of opera companies and organizations with which our graduates sing or have performed:

performers | soloists
daniil trifonov
Daniil Trifonov (AD '14, Babayan) is an internationally renowned pianist whose first CD was nominated for a GRAMMY.

CIM creates a vibrant, energized atmosphere where ideas grow and musicians thrive — where our students are taught by some of the greatest talents in classical music and where they learn alongside exceptionally gifted peers. In an environment steeped in tradition that simultaneously encourages innovation in technique, technology and interpretation, our students grow to become imaginative and emboldened artists and performers. They tour the world to play concerts and record award-winning music.

The following list represents just some of our talented graduates who are working as performers and soloists:

conductors | music directors
melisse brunet
Mélisse Brunet (PS '12, Topilow): Music Director of the Lexington Philharmonic, Music Director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, featured in documentary MAESTRA

Our conducting program helps students develop advanced skills in musicianship and analysis while refining technique, musical knowledge and communication skills. Conducting majors regularly attend CIM orchestra and opera rehearsals, and may assist with sectional rehearsals. They have unprecedented access to observe rehearsals with The Cleveland Orchestra. By limiting enrollment, we grant each of our students significant podium time providing hands-on experience that translates to real-world jobs.

Below is a list of some of the organizations where CIM alumni work or have worked as conductors or music directors:

  • Aspen Music Festival
  • Assisi Opera
  • Australian Festival of Chamber Music
  • Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
  • Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
  • Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
  • Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Brevard Music Center
  • Brighton Symphony Orchestra
  • Capitol Chamber Orchestra
  • Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra
  • Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
  • China Philharmonic
  • Cleveland Chamber Symphony
  • The Cleveland Orchestra
  • Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
  • Cleveland Philharmonic
  • Colorado Symphony Orchestra
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra
  • FiveOne Experimental Orchestra
  • Florida Grand Opera
  • Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Georgia Symphony Orchestra
  • Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra
  • Giovanile Orchestra (Bologna)
  • Guangzhou Symphony
  • Hong Kong Philharmonic
  • Houston Symphony
  • Indiana University
  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
  • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
  • Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Kent/Blossom Music Festival
  • Lexington Philharmonic
  • Lyric Orchestra of Avignon Provenc
  • Manhattan School of Music
  • Metropolitan Youth Symphony of Atlanta
  • Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa (Mexico)
  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
  • Music Academy of the West
  • National Symphony Orchestra & Chorus of Costa Rica
  • National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
  • Nevada Chamber Music Festival
  • New York Philharmonic
  • Auckland Philharmonia (New Zealand)
  • Ohio Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Opera Belcanto (Toronto)
  • Opera Circle Orchestra
  • Opera North (NH)
  • Opera Per Tutti
  • Opera Southwest
  • Orchestra of St. Luke's
  • Orchestra of the Opera of Rouen Haute Normandie
  • Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice
  • Orquestra Sinfônica de Minas Gerais
  • Paducah Symphony Orchestra
  • Palm Beach Symphony
  • Philharmonic Society of Orange County
  • Puerto Rico Symphony
  • Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Rappahannock Pops Orchestra
  • Reno Chamber Orchestra
  • Richmond Symphony
  • San Francisco Symphony
  • Santa Fe Symphony & Chorus
  • Shanghai Symphony
  • Sofia Festival Orchestra
  • St. Ann Orchestra
  • St. Louis Symphony
  • Suburban Symphony
  • National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan
  • Union City Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Venezuela Symphony Orchestra
  • West Australian Ballet
  • Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
audio recording professionals
thomas moore
Thomas Moore, BM'86/MM '88: Principal Oboe with The Cleveland Pops, Grammy Award-winning audio producer, founding member and president of Five/Four Productions, Ltd (Photo: Robert Muller)

Our facilities feature state-of-art equipment, but students gain more than technical training at CIM — they learn the art of recording music. Audio engineering majors follow the same core curriculum as performance majors to cultivate increased aural acuity and musical knowledge. Recording industry professionals mentor students — teaching recording skills, editing techniques, mixing, audio production for video, network communications and more. The practical experience our students gain while at CIM and through internships, along with Pro Tools Certification, make a winning combination for post-graduation success.

Some of the individuals working in the music recording and production industry:

  • Alan Bise
  • Emily Botel-Barnard
  • Ian Dobie
  • Joseph Hallman
  • Alex Kosiorek
  • Thomas Moore
  • Louis Enghow Ng
  • Joseph Maxwell Porter
  • Jason Whetstone

Companies where CIM Audio Recording graduates work:

Faculty | instructors
amy moretti_alum
Amy Schwartz Moretti, BM '98/MM '01: Associate Professor, Violin, and Director of the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University; Distinguished Artist and Caroline Paul King Violin Chair in Strings (Photo: Courtesy of the Artist)

Our vision is to be the center for the education of the complete musician of the 21st century, which includes training the next generation of music instructors. Our Joint Music Program with Case Western Reserve University enables CIM students to take non-music courses and earn dual degrees, including an educational degree. Custom programs prepare our students for fellowships and apprenticeships. This immersive and creative educational process enables our graduates to leave CIM prepared to teach or to continue their studies at other esteemed institutions.

CIM graduates are accepted to prestigious graduate programs around the world, including:

  • Arizona State University
  • Ball State University
  • Bard College Conservatory
  • Boston Conservatory
  • Boston University
  • Bowling Green State University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
  • The Colburn School
  • Curtis Institute of Music
  • Eastman School of Music
  • Florida State University
  • Guildhall School of Music & Drama
  • Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
  • Manhattan School of Music
  • Mannes College of Music, The New School
  • McGill University (Montreal, Canada)
  • Michigan State University
  • Musikhochschule Lübeck
  • New England Conservatory
  • New York University
  • Northwestern University
  • Ohio State University
  • Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University
  • Ravinia's Steans Music Institute
  • Royal Academy of Music
  • Rutgers University
  • San Francisco Conservatory of Music
  • Shepherd School of Music - Rice University
  • Stony Brook University
  • SUNY Purchase College
  • Temple University
  • Univ of Arizona
  • Universidade de Aveiro
  • Univ of California, Los Angeles
  • Univ of California, Santa Barbara
  • Univ of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music
  • Univ of Colorado Boulder
  • Univ of Georgia
  • Univ of Houston-Moores School of Music
  • Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Univ of Maryland
  • Univ of Michigan
  • Univ of Minnesota: Twin Cities
  • Univ of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Univ of North Texas
  • Univ of Southern California
  • Univ of Texas at Austin
  • Univ of West Virginia
  • Yale University

CIM graduates have accepted positions to teach at hundreds of schools and festivals, including:

  • Aber Suzuki Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
  • American Festival for the Arts
  • Ameropa Chamber Music Festival
  • Arts Share | University of Iowa
  • Ashland University
  • Aspen Music Festival
  • Aurora School of Music
  • Austin Chamber Music Center Academy
  • Avon School of Music
  • Azusa Pacific University
  • Baldwin Wallace University
  • Ballance Talent Education Studio
  • The Banff Centre
  • Batavia Studios
  • Battersea Arts Centre
  • Baylor University
  • Bennett Conservatory of Music (NY)
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Bethesda University (Anaheim)
  • Bloomsburg Preparatory School of Music
  • Broadway School of Music and the Arts
  • Brookline Music School
  • Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
  • California Arts Boarding School | Idyllwild Arts Academy
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Celebrity School of Music
  • Central Conservatory of Music
  • Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop
  • Chapman University
  • Clayton State
  • Clear Lake High School Orchestra
  • Coach for Eastman Opera
  • Coda Mountain Academy of Music
  • College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
  • Colorado State University-Pueblo
  • Columbus State University (Columbus, Georgia)
  • Community Music School - Oberlin College
  • Concordia College - Moorhead
  • Conneaut High School
  • Cornish College of the Arts
  • Coro de la Universidad de los Andes
  • Curtis Young Artist Summer Program
  • Cuyahoga Community College
  • Dana School of Music
  • Denver School of the Arts
  • DePaul University
  • Diller-Quaile School of Music
  • East China Normal Conservatory
  • Eastern Mennonite University
  • Eastman School of Music
  • El Paso Community College
  • El Sistema (Boston)
  • El Sistema (Cleveland)
  • El Sistema (Kalikolehua)
  • El Sistema (New Brunswick, Canada)
  • El Sistema (Winnipeg)
  • Emory University
  • Faculty Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School
  • Faith Music Academy
  • Flint Institute of Music
  • Florentine Music School
  • Geauga Music Center
  • Geneva Conservatory of Music in Manhattan
  • George Washington University
  • Gifted Music School (Salt Lake City)
  • Great Lakes School of Music
  • Guildhall School of Music and Drama
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Harding University
  • Harlem Village Academy Leadership Middle School
  • Harpool Middle School
  • Harvard University
  • The Hartt School
  • High Point University
  • Hiram College
  • Houston Youth Symphony
  • Illinois State University
  • Indiana Springs Academy of Music
  • Indiana University
  • Indiana Wesleyan University
  • Interlochen Arts Academy
  • Interlochen Arts Camp
  • International Festival-Institute at Round Top
  • Ithaca College
  • John Carroll University
  • The Juilliard School
  • Kanack School of Music
  • Kent State University
  • Kutztown University
  • Lancaster Bible College
  • LidalNorth International Opera Workshop
  • Lone Star College
  • Lorain County Community College
  • Luzerne Music Center
  • Lynn University
  • Madeline Island Music Festival
  • Malone University
  • Manatee School for the Arts
  • Marshalltown Community School District
  • Maryland Talent Education Center
  • McDuffie Center for Strings | Mercer University
  • McGill University
  • Meadowmount School of Music
  • Miami University of Ohio
  • Millburn Township Schools
  • Mississippi Valley State University
  • Montessori High School (Cleveland)
  • Music and Dance Academy of Tucson
  • Music Institute of Chicago
  • Music School of Delaware
  • Music School Settlement
  • The Music Settlement (Cleveland)
  • The Music Settlement School (Philadelphia)
  • Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts
  • Neighborhood Music School
  • New England Conservatory
  • New York State School Music Association
  • New York Summer Music Festival
  • New York University
  • North Hennepin Community College
  • North Shore Suzuki School
  • Northern Kentucky University
  • Oberlin Conservatory
  • Ohio State University
  • Ohio University
  • Ohio Viola Society
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Pakachoag School of Greater Worcester
  • Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music
  • Parrish Music Academy
  • Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University
  • Penn State University
  • Philadelphia Biblical University
  • Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy
  • Plumosa School of the Arts
  • Rainey Institute/El Sistema (variously locations)
  • Riverside Academy at Beck Center
  • Rudolf Steiner School
  • Rutgers University
  • San Diego Mesa College
  • San Diego State University
  • San Jacinto College Middle/High School Strings Camp
  • School of Music in Espinho
  • Scotch College
  • Shepherd University (Los Angeles)
  • Sonrise Community School of the Arts
  • St. Claire School for Strings (New Zealand)
  • St. Joseph's School of Music
  • Stagecrafters Theater
  • Stanford University
  • Summer Christian Music Camp
  • Suzuki Association of the Americas
  • Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism College
  • Tanglewood Institute - Boston University
  • Teach For America - Detroit Community Schools
  • Texas A & M University-Kingsville
  • Texas Lutheran University
  • Texas Strings Camp
  • Texas Winds Musical Outreach
  • Toedtman School of Music
  • Town School (NYC)
  • Trinity College - University of Melbourne (Australia)
  • Troy University
  • Turtle Bay Music School
  • Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola
  • Univ of Akron
  • Univ of Alabama
  • Univ of Arizona
  • Univ of California, Berkeley
  • Univ of California, Irvine
  • Univ of California, Santa Cruz
  • Univ of North Carolina School of the Arts
  • Univ of Chicago
  • Univ of Colorado Denver
  • Univ of Dayton
  • Univ of Denver Lamont School of Music
  • Univ of Evansville
  • Univ of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Univ of Manitoba
  • Univ of Michigan
  • Univ of Minnesota
  • Univ of North Texas
  • Univ of Oregon Community Music Institute
  • Univ of Oregon School of Music and Dance
  • Univ of Ottawa
  • Univ of Redlands (CA)
  • Univ of Rhode Island
  • Univ of Rochester
  • Univ of St. Andrews (Scotland)
  • Univ of Tampa
  • Univ of Texas at Tyler
  • Univ of Texas Permian Basin
  • Univ of Texas-Austin
  • Univ of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio)
  • Univ of Toronto
  • Univ of Utah
  • Univ of Virginia
  • Univ of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  • University School
  • Utah State University
  • Valencia College
  • Vancouver Academy of Music
  • Varta Academy of Musical Arts
  • Wayne State University
  • West Texas A&M University
  • Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University
  • William and Mary College
  • Williamette University
  • Yale University
  • YES Prep West
  • York College of Pennsylvania
  • York University
  • Youngstown State University
award winners
jinjoo cho
Violinist Jinjoo Cho (BM '11 Kantor, MM '13, PS '15 Laredo) was the winner of the 2014 International Violin Competition. She currently teaches at Schulich School of Music.

With a world-class faculty educating some of the most talented young musicians from across the country and around the globe, CIM students and alumni regularly earn awards, fellowships, scholarships and take top honors in international competitions both while studying at CIM and following graduation. Awards often provide prize money that helps students underwrite the cost of a CIM education and include recording contracts or publicity that help launch careers.

CIM students and alumni regularly earn awards, fellowships, scholarships and take top honors in international competitions, including:

  • Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition
  • ASCAP - Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
  • Aspen Quintet Fellowship
  • Astral Award
  • Avery Fischer Career Grant
  • Borciani International String Quartet Competition
  • Bordeaux International Quartet Competition
  • Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award
  • Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition
  • Cannes Film Festival
  • Canton Symphony Composition Fellow
  • Carlos Prieto International Cello Competition
  • Chamber Music Institute Fellowship
  • Charles Ives Fellowship, American Academy of Arts and Letters
  • Cleveland Arts Prize
  • Cleveland International Piano Competition
  • Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Composition Competition
  • Cloyd Duff PASIC Scholarship (Percussive Arts Society)
  • Coleman National Chamber Ensemble Competition
  • Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition
  • Dorothy DeLay Fellowship in the Aspen Music Festival
  • Douglas Moore Fellowship in American Opera
  • Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship
  • Fischoff Educator Award
  • Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
  • Frieda Schumacher Young Artist Competition
  • Fulbright Scholarship
  • Game Audio Network Guild
  • Gaspar Cassado International Violoncello Competition
  • Glenn Gould School Chamber Music Competition
  • GRAMMY Awards
  • Guggenheim Fellowships
  • Henryk Szeryng Career Award
  • Hilton Head International Piano Competition
  • Holland-America Music Society Competition
  • Hollywood Music Awards
  • Hong Kong International Violin Competition
  • Hugo Kauder Competition
  • International Barlow Prize
  • International Conducting Workshop & Competition
  • International Festival Society Grant International Film Music Critics Association Awards
  • International Piano Concerto Competition in Manchester
  • International Tchaikovsky Competition
  • International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
  • Irving M. Klein International String Competition
  • Kingsville International Violin Competitions
  • Kresge Artist Fellowship
  • Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition on the Isle of Man
  • London International Quartet Competition
  • Lyon & Healy Awards
  • MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius Grant”)
  • MacDowell Colony Fellowship/Residency
  • Marjorie Neville Collaborative Piano Competition
  • Millennium Arts International Competition for Composers
  • Mozart Chamber Music Award
  • Muriel Taylor Cello Prize
  • Musica Domani Composition Competition
  • Nakamichi Cello Competition
  • National Alliance of Black School Educators (Lifetime Achievement Award)
  • National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Young Artist Competition
  • National Repertory Orchestra Fellowship
  • Naumburg Competition
  • Osaka International Music Competition
  • Paganini Competition
  • Plowman International Chamber Music Competition
  • Postacchini International Violin Competitions
  • Primrose International Viola Competition
  • Prix Goyer 
  • Rome Prize in Music Composition
  • Salon De Virtuosi: Monique Schoen-Warshaw Grant
  • Sphinx Performance Academy
  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Tanglewood Fellows
  • Tchaikovsky Competition
  • Thayer Award in Composition
  • Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition
  • Wilhelm Kempff Foundation Fellowship
  • William C. Hall Pipe Organ Competition
  • Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition