Cleveland is a world capital of classical music, thanks to the Cleveland Orchestra. But the Orchestra sits atop a rich ecosystem of smaller organizations whose hard work contributes to the region’s international reputation for musical excellence. These include Piano Cleveland, Apollo’s Fire, and my own organization, M.U.S.i.C. (Musical Upcoming Stars in the Classics).
Among these wonderful groups, M.U.S.i.C. has a distinctive mission. We offer chamber music concerts in intimate venues, presenting top young virtuosos as they step into the spotlight of a professional career. We give you the chance to see someone like the next Lang Lang or Yo-Yo Ma, fresh out of the box. It’s an opportunity that thrills audiences and musicians alike.
Our concerts are renowned for their lively format, with a mix of solos, duos, quartets and even small orchestral works. One or two outstanding vocal pieces are usually included. I work hard with people involved in the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and Baldwin Wallace to identify their fastest-rising stars. The students are excited by the opportunity to play for new audiences – and to get paid for their work at professional rates.
You’d be surprised how often these incredible young virtuosos, while they’ve spent hours playing for teachers and fellow students, have little experience playing for an audience of strangers. When they step out at last on the M.U.S.i.C. stage, the effect can be electrifying.
Cleveland’s classical music audience is among the knowledgeable in the world, and the M.U.S.i.C. audience is no exception. Before each concert, I spend hours discussing the program with the musicians involved, making sure that it will include popular pieces along with lesser-known gems and more challenging works. M.U.S.i.C. is proud to have commissioned many original works by young composers – some of which have been played around the world.
The typical M.U.S.i.C. concert might be held anywhere from a spacious private home, to a church, synagogue or civic building. It might be a mansion in Bratenahl or Shaker Heights, a church in Pepper Pike, or a storefront in Collinwood (part of our community outreach). Wherever it is, M.U.S.i.C. concerts bring audiences and musicians close together – the way chamber music was meant to be heard.
I love cooking and good food, and one of the highlights of every M.U.S.i.C. concert is the reception afterwards. Our in-house caterers offer a substantial spread of sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres and desserts – to be enjoyed as audiences and musicians mingle and laugh together.
One of our popular offerings are our Summer Garden Concerts – held in a beautiful East Side backyard. You can enjoy a glorious M.U.S.i.C. concert outdoors, amid the flowers and under the trees. For more information on upcoming concerts, call me, Jodi Kanter, at 216.702.7047, or visit www.starsintheclassics.org. I look forward to meeting you!
