October 3, 2017

CIM Inducts First-Ever Life Trustee, Former Chair A. Malachi Mixon, III


Photo of CIM Chair Richard Hipple, CIM Life Trustee Mal Mixon and CIM President & CEO Paul Hogle.
From left: CIM Chair Richard Hipple, CIM Life Trustee Mal Mixon and CIM President & CEO Paul Hogle. Photo by Roger Mastroianni.

In its annual meeting on September 28, 2017, the Cleveland Institute of Music established the office of Life Trustee, the highest honor it can bestow upon an individual who has made historically significant, exemplary contributions to CIM. A. Malachi (Mal) Mixon, III, embodies the spirit of this office, having both led the organization as Chair from 1997 to 2015 and made the transformational gift that created the Institute’s premier performance space, Mixon Hall, ten years ago. CIM’s membership elected Mal Mixon as its first-ever Life Trustee, and Chair Richard J. Hipple presented him with a distinctive medal as a symbol of the office. 

In his remarks, Hipple said: “Mal’s legacy, leadership and the generosity he bestowed over decades of engagement continues to resound through the halls, practice rooms, concert stages and the board room. There could be no more appropriate time and place to shine a light on his many contributions to CIM than here today in Mixon Hall.” 

As one of the most beautiful small recital halls in the country, Mixon Hall has hosted approximately 3,600 recitals, chamber music concerts and events since it opened in 2007. Perfectly situated with the lush Gilliam Family Music Garden behind the glass back wall of the stage, the hall is a favorite of students, faculty and visiting artists for its beautiful acoustics and intimate feeling. CIM alumnus Eric Wong (BM ’08, MM ’11, Kantor) said, “The hall matches the brilliance of the performances going on here.” 

Mixon is well known to Northeast Ohioans as Chair of the board of MCM Capital Partners and retired CEO of Invacare Corporation. He serves on the boards of The Sherwin-Williams Company and Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. and is a past Chair of the board of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. As a community leader, he has volunteered immeasurable time, talent and treasure to help create and sustain vibrant non-profit and arts and cultural communities in the region. Under his leadership, CIM thrived as one of the preeminent music conservatories in the world, bringing pride and distinction to Cleveland as a destination for the world’s finest classical music students. 

Read the full press release from the 2017 annual meeting.