CLEVELAND, OH—August 28, 2024—Two very different pillars of University Circle are joining forces in a special way this fall.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, CIM announced that beginning in September and continuing through November, students will present Museum Melodies, a new series of free noontime recitals at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH). The series, the first in a new array of CIM programming around Northeast Ohio, will highlight the piano but also feature other instruments. The series provides students real-world professional experience and represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between CIM and the museum.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone,” said Antonio Pompa-Baldi, head of CIM’s Piano Department. “In addition to performing for the community, our students will learn vital professional skills, all of it with a community partner that is literally steps away. It does not get much better than that.”
Museum Melodies commences Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5 and 6 with one-hour piano recitals beginning at noon. The series continues with similar events at the same time every Thursday and Friday through November, excluding Thanksgiving Day. Dates in October and November will be piano recitals while November events will feature ensembles of various sizes. Pianists will perform in the museum’s newly renovated visitor hall, part of an ongoing $150 million transformation project, on a Steinway concert grand piano owned by the museum.
“Music throughout history has been a way humans have communicated with each other,” said Sonia Winner, President & CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “How lucky we are in this region to have the opportunity to partner with CIM so that their talented students can be showcased in our beautiful new Visitor Hall, which is free and open to the public.”
Even as it draws music-lovers to the Museum, the new series will benefit CIM students in particular, rounding out their education with invaluable experience performing as professionals.
Ariel Karas, CIM’s career advisor and a co-organizer of the series, said pianists in September and October will be compensated, while students who perform in November will receive academic credit. “It can be difficult for young pianists to get regular work, so the fact that this new series focuses on piano is really fantastic,” she said. “Beyond that, it will be a privilege for our students to perform in such a beautiful venue, on a high-quality instrument, for a partner right next door. It’s truly a win-win.”
MUSEUM MELODIES SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER: Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27
OCTOBER: Thursday and Friday, Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31
NOVEMBER: Thursday and Friday, Nov. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, and 29
All performances begin at noon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland. Free, no tickets required. For more information, visit cmnh.org or call 216-231-4600. CIM’s engagement in the community is funded in part through a grant from Gail and Elliott Schlang.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contacts
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
440-429-2902
sguenther@cmnh.org
