Music of Iconic American Composers to Fill Severance Hall this Saturday

On Saturday, March 7, Severance Hall audiences will be treated to a night of Carl Topilow’s swinging clarinet on Glenn Miller standards, Vinson Cole singing selections from Copland’s Old American Songs, Chad Hoopes performing Barber’s beautiful violin concerto and a special appearance by Mark Nolan of WMJI 105.7 in a concert hosted by the CIM Women’s Committee. Hoopes caught up with Bill O'Connell of WCLV this week to speak more about the Barber concerto and what audiences can expect this weekend. To listen to the interview, click here.

Hoopes began studying with President Joel Smirnoff at CIM while in middle school as student in the Young Artist Program. Since graduating from the program, he has appeared in the Unites States and Europe, most notably with The Cleveland Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and Munich Symphony Orchestra. At 20 years old, Hoopes just recently released his first album on the French label, Naïve. He lives in New York City and travels extensively in Europe, most recently living in Germany.

American tenor and CIM faculty member Vinson Cole is internationally recognized as one of the leading artists of his generation. His career has taken him to all the major opera houses across the globe–from the Metropolitan Opera to Teatro alla Scala Milan.

Carl Topilow is renowned for his versatility, whether he is holding a conductor's baton or his trademark red clarinet. He is an esteemed member of the CIM faculty and conducts the school's orchestras. Following his longtime dream, he founded of the Cleveland POPs.

Mark Nolan was born in Cleveland and attended Kent State University. He's worked at WAKC TV-23 in Akron as the weather anchor at 6pm and 11pm and spent the next 18 years at WKYC as a chief meteorologist, morning anchor, reporter and everything in between. Today, you can catch Nolan weekdays (10am-2pm) on Majic 105.7 FM.