CityMusic Cleveland is a professional chamber orchestra that performs free concerts throughout Northeast Ohio, accompanied by exhibits of local artwork.
Our mission is to develop audiences and build communities through the arts by:
* Presenting the finest quality performances of classical repertoire, * Eliminating the twin barriers of high ticket prices and unfamiliar venues, * Working with neighborhood leaders to enrich the cultural offerings of their communities.
In so doing, CityMusic Cleveland builds audiences for both the musical and visual arts organizations in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
CityMusic Cleveland was founded in 2004 as a professional chamber orchestra with a distinctive vision. From the outset, that vision has taken the 40-piece ensemble to communities throughout Greater Cleveland and beyond, performing for audiences who may never have set foot in a traditional concert hall. Most distinctive of all is the orchestra’s pricing strategy – all the concerts are free.
In the course of its first six years, performing in a diverse range of community venues and offering free admission to all has enabled CityMusic to break down two common barriers to classical music: high ticket prices and unfamiliar venues. At the same time, the orchestra’s programming boldly embraces favorite classics of the repertoire, rarities from the past and music by living composers. CityMusic has commissioned new works from Margaret Brouwer and Christos Hatzis, with a future commission by Kevin Putts and Miro String Quartet, the world premiere is an annual feature in the CityMusic season.
A vital element in the CityMusic mission is the building of relationships with individual neighborhoods and their civic leaders: integrating the orchestra into the fabric of each community and giving those communities ownership of the concerts. More recently, CityMusic activities have expanded to include music education programs based on the El Sistema curriculum of Venezuela.
CityMusic Cleveland has won critical acclaim both for its artistic excellence and for the contagious enthusiasm and camaraderie of the musicians, who make their careers performing and teaching in northeast Ohio and beyond. Conductor James Gaffigan was Music Director from 2005 until January 2010, receiving the Helen Thompson Award for his work with the orchestra. During his tenure, CityMusic released three live concert recordings, including the premiere recording of Margaret Brouwer’s Violin Concerto with soloist Michi Wiancko.
