The Cleveland Institute of Music

By CSU Center for Public History and Digital Humanities

CIM Director Victor Babin, 1966 CIM artistic director Victor Babin (left) with a new Steinway piano in 1966. Babin was artistic director from 1961 until 1972. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1966

The Cleveland Institute of Music was founded in 1920 by a small group of backers who each contributed $1,000 to get the music conservatory off the ground. Initially the school focused on student performance. Classes were first taught in the Statler Hotel, then moved to various residences on Euclid Avenue until the institute built its own facility in University Circle in 1961.

CIM's first artistic director was Ernest Bloch, a Swiss composer and teacher who came to Cleveland from New York City. Bloch began teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a holistic method of music education focusing on the expression of both musical and physical rhythms that is still taught to students today. The institute offers a comprehensive liberal arts education in conjunction with Case Western Reserve University and also provides a preparatory program for younger students. Since its founding, CIM continues to have a close relationship with the Cleveland Orchestra. The number of enrolled students in CIM's inaugural year was five. A century later, more than 400 students enroll in a typical academic year.

Audio

Renovating CIM's Campus Susan Schwartz recalls the renovation of CIM Source: Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection

A Cultural Community Susan Schwartz of CIM explains the relationship between CIM and the Cleveland Orchestra Source: Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection

The Influence of Ethnic Communities Bonnie Eggers and Susan Schwartz explain the influence of Cleveland's ethnic communities in the formation of CIM Source: Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection

Accomplished Alumni Susan Schwartz of CIM speaks about the meaning of fame in the world of classical music Source: Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection

Moving To University Circle Susan Schwartz of CIM explains the decision to move to University Circle Source: Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection

Ernest Bloch This is an excerpt from Ernest Bloch's Suite Modale for Flute and Strings, Movement 1, Moderato. Source: International Music Score Library Project

Images

CIM Director Victor Babin, 1966 CIM artistic director Victor Babin (left) with a new Steinway piano in 1966. Babin was artistic director from 1961 until 1972. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1966

Inaugural Catalog, 1920-1921 Pictured on the cover is the school's first official home at 3146 Euclid Avenue. Artistic Director Ernest Bloch stated CIM's founding mission as: "Musical education, in addition to the thorough study of technique, ought above all else, to develop qualities of appreciation, judgment and taste, and to stimulate understanding and love of music." Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1920

Relocation Campaign, 1959 Pictured at the top is a conceptual model of the main campus, designed by architectural firm Schafer, Flynn & Williams. The building, located on East Boulevard, was completed in 1961 at a cost of over $2.1 million. CIM's move to University Circle began an era of expansion for the school. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1959

Dalcroze Eurhythmics, ca. 1975 David Neal Brown teaching Dalcroze Eurhythmics - a combination of rhythm dynamics, tone, and form - to a group of youngsters. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music

Youth Orchestra, 1984 Kurt Masur is shown directing the Cleveland Institute of Music's Youth Orchestra at Kulas Hall in 1984. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1984

CIM postcard, 1965 A 1965 postcard showing the modern architecture of CIM's new University Circle home. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music Date: 1965

Mixon Hall, 2007 Source: Cleveland Institute of Music

David Cerone David Cerone, Artistic Director of CIM from 1985 until 2008, is pictured here with Linda Cerone and a violin student. Source: Cleveland Institute of Music

Location

11021 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106

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Metadata

Official Website

www.cim.edu

Citation Info

CSU Center for Public History and Digital Humanities, “The Cleveland Institute of Music,” Cleveland Historical, accessed September 12, 2024, https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/46.

Published Sep 19, 2010. Last updated Sep 27, 2023.

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