More trouble ahead in Cleveland
NewsA parents group has formed at Cleveland Institute of Music to monitor activities of its controversial management. Parents are complaining that their children’s education has suffered from the recent dismissal of key teachers.
Pending a meeting with CIM on Tuesday, they have set up a social media group and are planning activism.
An additional two students of the dismissed viola professor Mark Jackobs have notified CIM that they will not re-register for school next year.
Interesting. Well meaning surely, but largely toothless I should think. How many CIM students (prep dept students are another matter) are actually minors, where parents would actually (legally?) have standing? Like it or not the institution has fiduciary responsibilities and once a student is of a certain age the parents are out of the picture, regardless of whether or not they are paying the bills.
It is very sad to see what is happening to CIM.
Having followed this CIM moonshot model over the years, I can’t help but wonder if Hogle’s plan is to take the Cleveland Orchestra influence out of CIM. He seems content losing Cleveland Orchestra members as faculty, whether through their own resignations or his firing, and replacing them with ‘New Yorkers’ or, most recently, Detroit Symphony members. This is a very surprising plan, but not surprising for someone who doesn’t know Cleveland all that well.
CIM, in contrast to the typical East Coast music school, has had a much more integrated faculty than a fragmented one. In NY, the music schools are a bit more of a hodgepodge of various chamber musicians and tired soloists who use teaching to ensure their bills are paid, but not much else; these faculty artists can attract applicants but they don’t seem to help students build careers. Cleveland, based on what I have heard over the past three or four decades, has/had always been different given its unofficial association with the orchestra by way of its faculty.
This Hogle character is doing what he can to hire non-Cleveland musicians, likely with the hope that he can make CIM just another east coast music school that cranks out sonata playing students. I can hear the celebrations across the music world: with CIM crumbling, its students will have less and less dominance at orchestra auditions, where CIM students have historically had an upper hand.
Hogle has been applauded left and right by business leaders in Cleveland. He has made considerable efforts in the DEI route that have not gone unnoticed. He gets millions in donations from Ohio business leaders. At the same time, he has carefully selected largely unknown teachers to join the faculty. Given his obvious lack of musical knowledge, he must be happy with his work as a rebel. It will not end well. From his dismissal of the Covanni Quartet to his loss of other faculty, his replacement hires have been confusing to those in the music field.
Curtis and Indiana and Southern Methodist (?) have all been benefitting from Hogle’s storm, but Cleveland students have not.
My roommate at Tulane was a kid from Cleveland. He had learned music at the pre-college of CIM, and until the Hogle reign his nieces and nephews had learned music at the pre-college. Hogle has essentially demolished that part of the CIM and replaced it with something more marketable to donors, but not appealing to strong applicants.
The chant: Go Hogle, Go…go away.
Just because our children are considered adults, doesn’t mean we as parents don’t have the right to voice our concern and anger, unless we are the kind that just cut them out of our lives completely, and don’t care whether they are alive or dead. Yes, there are that kind of parents I bet. But it’s not us! Put yourself in our shoes, what do you think you will do?
This is all BS theater. With the state of orchestras in the west, the majority of these “students” will be relegated to a lifetime of babysitting middle school orchestra kids (and calling it “private lessons”) and performing part-time in a handful of civic performing groups for pocket change while under the influence of alcohol or substantial doses of antidepressants. The sooner all parties involved realize they’re wasting their time and money, the better.
Protip: bait should smell, but not this bad. Subtlety is a virtue.
Perhaps you reveal too much about yourself in your post? Not everyone fails in their life pursuits.
That’s the life of most musicians, and there’s nothing wrong with it.
No, it is not. Speak for yourself.
That’s clearly false, I never show up to my gig orchestras under the influence of alcohol or antidepressants.
It’s strictly cannabis these days.
I read that the use of cannabis can lead to poor memory, but I can’t remember where.
Bitter much? Lost all your auditions? Burned all your bridges talking behind the backs of colleagues, making them hate you and never want to play with you? Blacklisted by all the contractors in your area? Must suck! OK bye, I’m heading off to have fun playing music around NYC.
I have been a professional orchestra musician for over 30 years, collaborated with numerous world class musicians all over the world. No, I don’t make top dollars, and I don’t “babysit middle school orchestra kids” (and what’s wrong with it?), but many of my excellent colleagues do, and I respect them very very much, because they do the most underrated job just so we foster our next generation to be part of the art of classical music. And mind you, the “private lessons” are what create every musician you see in the world, and no, we are not all students of Heifetz, Perlman or Rostropovich or Argerich etc. We all started our lessons with the kind of teachers that “babysit the youth orchestras”. The kind that grow these young kids to be on the way to being a worthy musician or a supporter, an audience of our music . The worth of a musician is not judged by how much they make. And over my school years and the 30+ years of my career (still ongoing), I have NEVER EVER ONCE witnessed the kind of people you described. I’m sure you’re describing yourself?
First, I don’t know anybody in middle school or after (or before, for that matter) who passed time under the guardianship of a babysitter. My experience, and the experiences of every musician I’ve ever discussed this with, was that our music teachers worked harder than other teachers, were more inspiring than other teachers, and – perhaps most importantly – were more empathetic and more humane than the other teachers.
Second, there is nothing wrong in playing in a civic orchestra. In fact, the mere existence of civic orchestras – as well as community theater companies, local art film theaters, local dance schools, etc. – is part of what makes communities worth living in, communities that care about their neighbors, and communities who share in their appreciation of the arts and who love to open the eyes, ears, minds, and hearts of their children. Nothing wrong with that. (and speaking in terms of money, if that’s all you relate to, these community assets result in higher priced and more sustainable housing markets, better school systems, and more)
Third, you may be addicted to alcohol or drugs, but in my 40 years of being involved with community groups, I’ve never seen this behavior at all. Quite the opposite, in fact, the arts provide the type of influence, outlet, and inspiration that helps people find lifestyles that don’t involve addiction.
Last, the sooner YOU realize your soul is empty, the sooner you can fill it and find out what it’s like to be a happy person.
Bravo, Parents! I sincerely hope for some impact, but have my doubts as the CEO and Board have proved themselves clueless to date.
This is so sad. I remember audition day for my 18 year old “child” back in the Cerone days. The Women’s Board served a luncheon for all auditioners and parents. As a parent, I felt that gesture showcased an institution that not only understood superior music training, but also the commitment that families had made to their children’s musical education. The luncheon was a thoughtful way to acknowledge this family effort by providing a pleasant break for all participants in the midst of an audition day that is nerve-wracking for both students and parents.
My string player received superb training. The CIM “brand” has been recognized throughout the career to date. I very much fear that will not be the case moving forward.
FWIW, there was a luncheon this year on the audition day I was there, hand-served by CIM board members. Both women and men. So maybe they’re still trying. Anyway, not to diminish any serious problems, just adding a bit of on the ground truth.
I was so impressed when we moved in and admin and faculty were there to help carry boxes. Believe me, I am no longer impressed. When you’re not sure if your child’s professor is going to be there tomorrow, the sparkle kind of diminishes. We’ve loved CIM. But we don’t recommend anyone go there until this board and President is gone.
My daughter was class of 2013 and her department was having big problems because of teachers leaving and stranding their students. They quit because of bad management then and my daughter was faced with a new teacher for her senior year who did nothing to prepare her for grad school auditions; luckily, she’s a self starter. While applaud these parents now taking initiative to try to remedy the situation, it’s been bad for over a decade. They didn’t listen then and they won’t now. The downward slide was very evident when they hired a dean who’d already made major financial errors at his previous school.
But that luncheon was a pleasant memory, as was the breakfast they hosted whole our kids sat the theory placement exam.
Waiting for Susan/Paul to show up here under pseudonyms to call the parents “whiners” or “woke,” before moving on to insinuate that the fired professors did something very, very bad.
They’ve ruined the place. I don’t see it ever bouncing back unless they do a complete 180 course correct immediately, and even then, they’ve torched their reputation so badly that it’s probably already too late.
Not clear what parents have to do with this. Parents of whom? Are they the parents of prep school students?
Undergrad college students are typically 18 – 21. Grad music students, who I’d imagine are most affected by this situation, are 21 +. They’re adults. In either case, if students declare themselves to be financially dependent on their parents, it limits their possibility for financial aid.
For that reason, I don’t know many college aged pre-professional music students whose parents are this hands-on in their educations.
It’s an interesting fallout from this situation, but it’s not completely relevant to CIM’s professional training programs.
As a proud parent in this group, we exist only to support our children. We only are asking for explanations on how the administration’s actions (or lack of action)benefit the institution. We are not there to take sides, nor to monitor but have concerns due to the tarnishing of this institution’s reputation.
We are the last stake holders, well behind the administration, alumni, faculty and students. Our only power in this equation is my possible decision to not write a check.
Exactly. If I was a parent contributing to tuition or wanting to help my child I would DEFINITELY be doing something.
The cost of education isn’t bad enough now we have this going on? I did not send my child out to be backstabbed by corrupt, greedy middlemen while the people actually contributing to the expensive education are being mysteriously and rudely let go. This is not how to run a prestigious anything, and it certainly is not a good look.
I’m a parent of a recent CIM grad and another soon to be grad. Please let me know how I can join.
go to Facebook – lookup the Cleveland Institute of Music Parent Facebook page – request to join from the moderators.
As an alumnus, remembering the glory days, of CIM, with Vronsky and Babin, Trifonov, Levine, Steber, Sze etc. , this just makes me sick, to think that my beloved CIM has come to be in this unsavory situation, where it’s reputation is at stake!
I wonder how many CIM faculty, parents, students, or administrators knew about the Levine cult years back in the 1970s. This is almost nothing compared to that.
To amend your post, the parents are not meeting with CIM on Tuesday – dissatisfied parents sent letters, individually and as a group, to each of the trustees with their grievances and dissatisfactions, hoping the contents will be discussed and possible action taken at the board meeting on the 9th. So far the board and administration have ignored all of us – the faculty, the students, and the parents – disgracing the reputation of the school.
I applaud what this group is doing, but the name is startling. Elite conservatories don’t usually have parent groups. Nor do most colleges or universities as far as I know.
There are 92 members on their FB page. Some are here on this thread.
I’m just trying to figure out who you’re the parents of, please. Are you parents of pre-college preparatory students? Of undergrads who are still under 21? Parents who are paying for grad school for their adult children? A “parents group” for college-aged students is unusual. Unless you’re all paying full-fare tuition, CIM administration might not have much incentive to help you.
Any CIM parent who is paying tuition & concerned that their “child” is now receiving an unsatisfactory education should simply take that tuition money & send their “child” to a different elite music school. You can’t change the stripes on a zebra.
There are many other schools who’d be delighted to take your money. If your child is receiving financial aid, well, you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth. You don’t have much leverage.
In any case, forming a PTA for CIM is a bit odd. And it’s probably embarassing as hell for your kids. I’d band together with donors & other concerned citizens & rename the group accordingly. Just my take. . .
Well…………..
My “kid” certainly had no objection to Mom and Dad paying the tuition and housing bills, providing a home base for breaks, and cheering the kid on at recitals, during finals weeks, and audition periods. If my kid had encountered the disruptive teacher changes, troublesome orchestra experiences, and chamber music fiascos that some have encountered since my kid graduated, I know said “kid” would have been delighted with Dad and Mom signing a letter of dissatisfaction with management as we assisted kid in facilitating auditions at a transfer school.
I don’t know many undergrads or, for that matter, young grad students who reject their parents’ support in the college years.
I agree with the points made by G Feinsteen. I’m one of the parents of a CIM student. As a community – we need to go after the donors. Most likely only hearing the phony-rosey view painted by Hogle. We need to put ‘faces’ on the situation. Go after the money – best plan.