CIM Announces Expanded Roles for Violin Faculty Members Sibbi Bernhardsson and Stephen Tavani

Each is accepting students for Fall 2026  

Expedited application process 

Fast-Track Auditions with Rolling Admissions Decisions 

Guaranteed minimum Conservatory scholarship awards of $30,000 

Immediate Provisional Scholarship Offers Within 24 Hours of Audition 

Apply Now – Limited Studio Availability 

 CLEVELAND, March 9, 2026 – The Cleveland Institute of Music is pleased to announce expanded roles for faculty members Sibbi Bernhardsson and Stephen Tavani, further strengthening the depth and vitality of its violin department. Both are currently serving as guest lecturers at CIM for the 2025-26 academic year. 

Professor of Violin Sibbi Bernhardsson, who will maintain his studio at undergraduate-only Oberlin Conservatory, will open a graduate student studio at CIM, teaching master’s, diploma and doctoral students. Of his expanded role at CIM, Mr. Bernhardsson said " I am really looking forward to building a small studio of graduate students and to work along with wonderful faculty and friends here at CIM." 

Stephen Tavani, a CIM alum and assistant concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra, will take on the role of assistant professor of violin and orchestral studies, teaching a studio alongside violin repertoire and coaching sectionals for the CIM Orchestra. Of his role, Mr. Tavani shared “I look forward to sharing my love of music with my students. CIM has a unique setting in the incredibly rich cultural setting of University Circle, and I will encourage my students to fully take advantage of what it has to offer, including the invaluable opportunity to experience the Cleveland Orchestra regularly”.  

With intentionally small studio sizes, students benefit from focused technical development, individualized artistic guidance, and meaningful performance opportunities. This expansion ensures that more students can experience the conservatory’s high standard of violin training while preserving the personalized attention that defines the program. 

“Our decision to expand the violin faculty reflects both the extraordinary caliber of these artists and our commitment to providing students with intensive, individualized mentorship,” said CIM Executive Vice President and Provost Scott Harrison. “These artist-teachers represent the many directions a top-echelon music career can take: Sibbi as a former member of the Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet, and Stephen with his leadership role in The Cleveland Orchestra. By adding new studios and thoughtfully increasing capacity, we are creating more opportunities for students to study at the highest level while maintaining the close faculty relationships that accelerate artistic growth.” 

ABOUT THE FACULTY 

Icelandic violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson performed for 17 years with the Pacifica Quartet, with which he won a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance, Musical America Ensemble of the Year honors, and the Avery Fisher Career Grant. 

As a member of the Pacifica Quartet, Bernhardsson appeared in more than 90 concerts worldwide each year, including engagements in Wigmore Hall (London), the Vienna Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall (New York), and other major venues. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, Ravinia, Music@Menlo, and the Reykjavík Arts Festival. He has recorded 17 albums with the PSQ, as well as music for violin and piano by Schubert and music for violin by Thorkell Sigurbjornsson. 

Bernhardsson serves as director of the Cooper International Violin Competition at Oberlin and as artistic director of Iceland’s Harpa International Music Academy. He gives regular concerts and master classes in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has appeared as a soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra, CityMusic Cleveland, and other ensembles. He is a teaching artist at Music Academy of the West and has served on the faculties of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Additionally, he teached regualarly at the Encore Chamber Music Academy in Cleveland.  

Violinist Stephen Tavani is Assistant Concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra and 

has appeared as guest concertmaster with many other orchestras including the 

Indianapolis, Houston and Kansas City Symphonies. 

Tavani has appeared at the Sibelius International Violin Competition in Helsinki, the 

Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and the Michael Hill Violin Competition in 

New Zealand. He has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as others. 

An avid chamber musician, he has appeared at the Marlboro Festival, the Dresden Music Festival, and performs regularly as a member of the Blossom Quartet, which he founded with fellow Cleveland Orchestra musicians. 

Tavani volunteers bringing string programs to Northeast Ohio inmates with the 

Cleveland-based Renovare to help provide hope and healing through music. He also is involved with the MasterWorks Festival, which seeks to integrate Christian faith and life in the performing arts. 

Apply Now 

Students may apply to study with Professors Tavani, or Berhardsson through an expedited application process here. Students accepted into new Conservatory degree programs with these teachers will receive a minimum guaranteed scholarship award of $30,000 for the 2026-27 school year.