Cleveland Institute of Music pulls out all the stops for memorable 2025-26 season

The renovated Kulas Hall may be drawing all eyes at the moment, but just as attractive is the lure for the ears: the slate of concerts CIM is scheduled to host this year.  

In celebration of a completely renovated Kulas Hall, listeners can look forward to an ambitious, uncommonly rich array of offerings from the school’s resident ensembles, faculty, and guest artists and ensembles, not only in the reimagined Kulas Hall but also in CIM’s widely celebrated Mixon Hall.  

“The new Kulas Hall was designed to be flexible, to accommodate everything we do, and this first season will embrace that versatility right out of the gate,” said Scott Harrison, CIM’s Executive Vice President & Provost.  

“The year ahead is going to empower our students to reach their full performance potential, inspire our listeners, and point the way to the future of classical music.”  

With the grand opening of Kulas Hall on Oct. 3, CIM reclaims its position atop the list of musical destinations in Northeast Ohio. Between Kulas and Mixon Halls, the school will present full seasons by the CIM Orchestra, CIM Opera Theater, and CIM New Music Ensemble, as well as new Perspectives and Insiders series featuring CIM’s illustrious faculty and guests.  

The list of artists involved in these performances is as distinguished as it is long. The conducting slate alone features Carlos Miguel Prieto, Andrew Grams, and Tito Muñoz, former music director of the Phoenix Symphony and CIM’s new interim principal conductor and orchestral studies lecturer. Violin faculty member Todd Phillips will also lead the debut of the CIM Virtuosi, CIM’s conductor-less chamber orchestra.  

The fall lineup also includes violinist Catherine Cho, guitar faculty Jason Vieaux (BM ’95), and pianist James Wei, winner of the 2024 Cleveland International Piano Competition. The spotlight will also shine on several members of CIM’s piano faculty, including Ilya Itin, winner of the 1991 Casadesus Competition (now the Cleveland International Piano Competition), Jonathan and Linn Epstein Artist-in-Residence Gabriela Montero (performing her own “Latin” Concerto), and Antonio Pompa-Baldi.  

Opera lovers can mark their calendars for a new spring production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, rounding out last season’s presentation of Don Giovanni. First, though, will come new productions of Puccini’s often-paired Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, on Nov. 7 and 9 in Kulas Hall.  

“This intimate double-bill will be well served by the hall’s size and enhancements,” said JJ Hudson, interim artistic director of CIM Opera Theater. “We’re excited to return to Kulas Hall for this special opportunity to explore one of opera’s greatest dramatists.”  

And that is just a broad overview. Among the many other notable offerings on CIM’s fall 2025 season:    

• World-premiere performances of Woodland Songs, a new orchestral song cycle by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (MM ’00), presented serially over six concerts featuring CIM voice students
• Two days of special events celebrating the grand reopening of Kulas Hall, including a free “Day of Music” and a concert by the CIM Orchestra
• An appearance by Sphinx Virtuosi, the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization
• CIM Orchestra performances of Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, Sinfonía India by Carlos Chávez, and Sensemayá by Silvestre Revueltas
• Jonathan and Linn Epstein Artist-in-Residence Gabriela Montero performing her own “Latin” Concerto with the CIM Orchestra and guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto, Musical America’s 2019 Conductor of the Year
• The debut of the CIM Virtuosi, CIM’s new conductor-less chamber orchestra, led by violinist Todd Phillips, with pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi
• CIM New Music Ensemble programs celebrating Luciano Berio and guest composer Shawn Okpebholo
• New productions of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, by CIM Opera Theater
• Two chamber music collaborations by CIM faculty members and members of The Cleveland Orchestra
• Performances of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and the Korngold Violin Concerto by students Jakob Aumiller and Hiroka Matsumoto
• A new global music program featuring cello Artist-in-Residence Mike Block (BM ’04), faculty percussionist Jamey Haddad, and kora specialist Yacouba Sissoko 

A detailed list of fall 2025 events and a complete calendar is below. Most events – including the Kulas Hall Grand Reopening Celebration Oct. 3 – are free with tickets required, but a few select performances entail paid admission.  

For more information or to order tickets to fall season events, visit cim.edu/events. Tickets to spring events will be available later. All visiting artists, including guests with the CIM Orchestra, are generously supported by the Kulas Foundation.     

CIM Orchestra 

The honor of leading the first CIM Orchestra concert in the new Kulas Hall falls to guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto. He’ll preside over a grand opening celebration performance Oct. 3 featuring an excerpt from Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s new Woodland Songs and Jonathan and Linn Epstein Artist-in-Residence Gabriela Montero performing her “Latin” Concerto. Newly appointed interim principal conductor Tito Muñoz is next, with a program of works by Brahms and Tate, and the Korngold Violin Concerto, with violinist Hiroka Matsumoto (Oct. 17). Guest conductor Andrew Grams rounds out the fall semester Nov. 21 with another excerpt from Woodland Songs, Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with pianist Jakob Aumiller.  

CIM Opera Theater 

The CIM Opera Theater season kicks off on Nov. 7 and 9 with new productions of Puccini’s often-paired Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, conducted by music director Harry Davidson. CIM’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute, Dean Southern (DMA ’09), returns to the director’s chair to lead the productions. These will be the first full-scale opera performances in the newly renovated Kulas Hall. After that comes a late-fall edition of the company’s popular scenes program, featuring arias and ensemble excerpts from the repertoire, directed by Cynthia Wohlschlager (PS ’05), also in Kulas Hall (Dec. 6 and 7). Looking ahead, the spring semester boasts a new production of a work yet to be determined, in Kulas Hall (Feb. 11 and 12), and a new production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, in the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square (April 3 and 4), directed by interim artistic director JJ Hudson.  

CIM New Music Ensemble 

A celebration of composer Luciano Berio at 100 gets the new academic year off to a rousing start, with a program in Mixon Hall led by director Keith Fitch and featuring oboe faculty member Frank Rosenwein (BM ’00) (Sept. 21). Later in the fall, on Nov. 2, comes a Mixon Hall program featuring the work of guest composer Shawn Okpebholo, a professor at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, as well as Fitch’s Burnt Counterpoint and Schwantner’s Velocities. Near the end of the fall semester, on Nov. 23, comes a composition department recital in Mixon Hall featuring new works by CIM student composers.  

CIM Perspectives 

CIM’s acclaimed series of guest artists and ensembles is especially attractive in fall 2025, with appearances by figures with national and even global profiles. Up first, on Oct. 15, is a recital in Kulas Hall by pianist James Wei, winner of the 2024 Cleveland International Piano Competition. One week later, on Oct. 22 in Kulas Hall, comes a wide-ranging program by the Sphinx Virtuosi, the flagship performing entity of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization. Violinist Catherine Cho is next, performing Beethoven and Schubert in Mixon Hall (Oct. 28). Last but far from least on Dec. 3 in Kulas Hall is a new global music program featuring cello Artist-in-Residence Mike Block, faculty percussionist Jamey Haddad, and African kora specialist Yacouba Sissoko.  

CIM Insiders 

One need not travel far to hear world-class chamber music, as this showcase of CIM’s illustrious faculty makes abundantly clear. Pianist Ilya Itin, winner of the 1991 Casadesus Competition (now the Cleveland International Piano Competition), kicks off the year with inimitable Scriabin and Rachmaninoff (Sept. 24, Mixon Hall). Guitar virtuoso and Grammy Award winner Jason Vieaux comes next, Oct. 4, with a wide-ranging recital in the new Kulas Hall. After that come two star-studded evenings of chamber music, Nov. 4 and 19 in Kulas Hall, featuring faculty members Si-Yan Darren Li, Steven Banks, Stephen Tavani (AD ’18), Wesley Collins (BM ’07), Anita Pontremoli (BM ’73), Charles Paul, and Jacob Bernhardt (MM ’19, DMA ’23), along with several alumni members of The Cleveland Orchestra. 

Other Events 

Home to two of the region’s finest venues, Kulas Hall and Mixon Hall, and an active community partner, CIM regularly hosts artists and ensembles from all over Northeast Ohio. In addition to the above, CIM patrons can look forward to the Oct. 30 debut of the CIM Virtuosi, CIM’s new conductor-less chamber orchestra, led by violinist Todd Phillips and featuring pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi. The Academy at CIM also presents an extensive array of solo, chamber, and large ensemble concerts by serious younger artists, the details of which can be found below. Visit cim.edu/events regularly for updates to the calendar.  

FALL 2025 SEASON CALENDAR 

CIM thanks its fall 2025 season sponsor, KeyBank. 

Reserve free seating passes at cim.edu/events. 

Sunday, September 21 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

New Music Ensemble 

Keith Fitch, director 

Berio at 100 

BERIO   O King (1978) 

BERIO   Sequenza IXb (1980) 

BERIO   Sequenza V (1966) 

BERIO   Sequenza VI (1967) 

LENNON/McCARTNEY/BERIO   Beatles Songs (1965/1967) 

New Music Ensemble is generously supported by the Roy Minoff Family Fund. 

Wednesday, September 24 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Ilya Itin, piano 

SCRIABIN   24 Preludes, Op. 11  

RACHMANINOFF   10 Preludes from Opp. 3, 23, & 32  

Friday, October 3 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

KULAS HALL GRAND REOPENING CELEBRATION 

CIM Orchestra 

Carlos Miguel Prieto, guest conductor  

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Gabriela Montero, piano 

TATE*   Fani' (Squirrel) from Woodland Songs (2025)  

   [*Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (MM ’00)] 

MONTERO   Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin” (2016) 

REVUELTAS   Sensemayá (1938) 

CHÁVEZ   Symphony No. 2, “Sinfonía India” (1936) 

MONCAYO   Huapango (1941) 

Saturday, October 4 

12-6pm 

Day of Music 

CIM opens its doors for a day of music featuring community groups, chamber musicians, student musicians, family activities, local vendors, and more. 

Saturday, October 4  

12pm | Kulas Hall  

Academy Recital 

Saturday, October 4 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Jason Vieaux, guitar (BM ’95) 

ALBÉNIZ   Mallorca, Op. 202 

SOR   Variations on a Theme of Mozart, Op. 9 

HENZE   Drei Tentos from Kammermusik (1958) 

ALBÉNIZ   Rumores de la Caleta, Op. 71, No. 6 

ALBÉNIZ   Asturias, Op. 47, No. 5  

METHENY   Four Paths of Light (2021) 

MERLÍN   Suite del Recuerdo (1992) 

Wednesday, October 15 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Co-presented with Piano Cleveland 

James (Zijian) Wei, piano 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

2024 Mixon First Prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, James (Zijian) Wei, in recital. 

Friday, October 17 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

CIM Orchestra 

Tito Muñoz, conductor 

Hiroka Matsumoto, violin, student artist 

TATE*   Bakbak (Woodpecker) from Woodland Songs (2025) 

   [*Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (MM ’00)]  

BRAHMS   Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 

KORNGOLD   Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 

BRAHMS   Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 

Wednesday, October 22 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Sphinx Virtuosi 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artists 

The flagship ensemble of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization helps celebrate the reopening of Kulas Hall with one of its trademark programs showcasing the breadth and depth of music by Black and Latino composers. 

FOLEY   Ev’ry Voice (2020) 

WHITE   La Bella Cubana 

MONTGOMERY   Banner (2014) 

STILL   Suite for Cello (1943) 

NGWENYAMA   A Vision for Peace 

HAILSTORK   Sonata da Chiesa 

PONCE   Estrellita 

GINASTERA   Concerto for Strings, Op. 33, IV. Finale furioso 

Tuesday, October 28 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Catherine Cho, violin 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Albert Cano Smit, piano 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

CIM artist-in-residence Catherine Cho, a member of the faculty at The Juilliard School, joins forces with pianist Albert Cano Smit to present a program featuring the music of Beethoven, Schubert, and more. 

BEETHOVEN   Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1 

SCHUBERT   Fantasy in C Major, D. 934 

Thursday, October 30 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

CIM Virtuosi 

Todd Phillips, leader 

Antonio Pompa-Baldi, piano 

MOZART   Divertimento in D Major, K. 136 

MOZART   Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488 

TCHAIKOVSKY   Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 

Sunday, November 2 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

New Music Ensemble 

Keith Fitch, director 

Shawn Okpebholo, guest composer 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

OKPEBHOLO   CryptOlogiE (2014) 

SCHWANTNER   Velocities (1990) 

OKPEBHOLO   Selected Songs 

FITCH   Burnt Counterpoint (2007) 

OKPEBHOLO   Redline[ing] (2024) 

New Music Ensemble is generously supported by the Roy Minoff Family Fund. 

Tuesday, November 4 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Si-Yan Darren Li, cello 

Steven Banks, saxophone  

Stephen Tavani, violin (AD ’18) 

Wesley Collins, viola (BM ’07) 

Anita Pontremoli, piano (BM ’73) 

DVOŘÁK   Piano Trio No. 4, Op. 90, “Dumky” 

TCHAIKOVSKY   Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70 

Friday, November 7 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Sunday, November 9 

3pm | Kulas Hall 

CIM Opera Theater 

Dean Southern, director (DMA ’09) 

Harry Davidson, conductor 

CIM Orchestra 

PUCCINI   Suor Angelica 

PUCCINI   Gianni Schicchi 

Tickets: $10-$45 

CIM Opera Theater is supported by a grant from the John P. Murphy Foundation. 

Sunday, November 9  

3pm | Mixon Hall  

Academy Piano Recital 

Sunday, November 16  

3pm | Mixon Hall  

Upper Academy Recital 

Wednesday, November 19 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Charles Paul, double bass  

Genevieve Smelser, violin (BM ’17) 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Gareth Zehngut, viola  

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Dane Johansen, cello (BM ’05) 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Jacob Bernhardt, piano (MM ’19, DMA ’23) 

BACH   Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 

BOULANGER   Trois Pièces (1914) 

DRUCKMAN   Valentine (1969) 

LERDAHL   Waltzes (1981) 

Friday, November 21 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

CIM Orchestra 

Andrew Grams, guest conductor 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Jakob Aumiller, piano, student artist 

TATE*   Issi' (Deer) from Woodland Songs (2025) 

   [*Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (MM ’00)]  

PROKOFIEV   Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 

STRAUSS   Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 

Sunday, November 23 

4pm | Mixon Hall 

Composition Department Recital 

Featuring new works by CIM student composers. 

Tuesday, December 2 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Intensive Duo Concert 

Wednesday, December 3 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Mike Block, cello (BM ’04) 

Yacouba Sissoko, kora 

   Kulas Foundation Visiting Artist 

Jamey Haddad, percussion 

Cellist and CIM alum Mike Block returns with another invigorating program, featuring faculty percussionist Jamey Haddad and Yacouba Sissoko, a master of the kora, a West African stringed instrument. Together, they meld West African and American traditions through an intimate collaboration that features their original compositions and adaptations of traditional folk repertoire. 

Thursday, December 4  

7:30pm | Mixon Hall  

Upper Academy Recital 

Friday, December 5 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Advanced Piano Trio Program Concert 

Saturday, December 6  

12pm & 1:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Academy Choirs, Wind Ensembles, and Orchestras Concert 

Saturday, December 6 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Brass & Woodwind Ensembles Concert I 

Saturday, December 6 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

Sunday, December 7 

3pm | Kulas Hall 

Opera Scenes 

A program of arias and ensembles from the opera repertoire. 

CIM Opera Theater is supported by a grant from the John P. Murphy Foundation. 

Sunday, December 7  

12pm & 3pm | Mixon Hall  

Lower Academy Recital 

Sunday, December 7 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Brass & Woodwind Ensembles Concert II 

Monday, December 8 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert I 

Tuesday, December 9 

7:30pm | Kulas Hall 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert II 

Wednesday, December 10 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Advanced String Quartet Program Concert 

Thursday, December 11 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert III 

Friday, December 12  

7:30pm | Kulas Hall  

Academy Showcase Recital 

Friday, December 12 

7:30pm | Mixon Hall 

String & Piano Ensembles Concert IV 

Saturday, December 13 

2pm | Mixon Hall 

Continuing Education Recital 

Sunday, December 14  

4:30pm | Mixon Hall 

Academy Chamber Music Recital