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CIM'S OFFBEAT FOR 2009
The Cleveland Institute of Music's radio program Offbeat is designed to answer some pressing questions about classical music (well, maybe not so pressing, but thought-provoking nonetheless). Offbeat is heard Saturdays at 11:00 AM. It is also streamed live at www.wclv.com.
Each hour-long show explores the work of an artist or delves into a musical topic. Offbeat provides a cool combination of great music, interesting guests and slightly off-the-wall commentary - a lively behind-the-scenes tour of classical music.
 Host Merry Peckham, cellist with the famed Cavani String Quartet and CIM cello/chamber music faculty member, brings her energy, style and eccentric perspective to the program definitely an unexpected turn from the normally more circumspect classical music world. The Cavani Quartet won the prestigious Naumberg Chamber Music Award and was top prize winner at the Coleman, Fischoff, Banff International, and Cleveland Quartet Competitions. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Merry Peckham has made many solo guest artist appearances with orchestras and chamber ensembles. She was a prize-winner in numerous competitions, including the National Federation of Music Clubs, from which she received the top prize in cello and in overall string categories. Ms. Peckham received her Bachelor of Music degree with distinction from Indiana University and her Master of Music Performance and Literature degree from the Eastman School of Music. She completed additional studies at The Ohio State University and Yale University. Her major teachers and mentors include Janos Starker, Gary Hoffman, Aldo Parisot, Paul Katz and Peter Salaff.
Offbeat producer Nancy Sinning is a recognized award-winning professional both in front of the microphone as an announcer and behind the scenes as a producer. Nancy can be heard as the weekend on-air announcer for WCLV 104.9 FM and is featured on the program Golden Opportunities Sundays on WKYC (Channel 3). Regular classical music listeners may recognize her from WKSU-FM in Kent, where she worked as an announcer and producer from 1993 to 2002. Prior to WKSU, Nancy worked as a producer at K.S.U. Teleproductions in Kent, OH; WQEX-TV 16 in Pittsburgh, PA; WBKO-TV 13 in Bowling Green, KY and WTOV-TV 9 in Steubenville, OH. Nancy received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University. She has been recognized for her arts and cultural features by the Press Club of Cleveland, the Associated Press, the Ohio Society of Journalists and nationally by the Gabriel Awards. Nancy's interest in classical music began when her parents took her to the family series concerts in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she was born. When not on the airwaves, you'll find Nancy riding her bike, in a quilting class or enjoying good food.
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January 3: Joel Smirnoff
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Joel Smirnoff began his tenure as President of the Cleveland Institute of Music in July 2008. He comes to CIM from the Juilliard String Quartet with whom he has performed since1985; as first violinist since 1997. He was the head of the violin department at Juilliard and is also an active conductor. Merry delves into Mr. Smirnoff’s career and plans for CIM as he looks towards the future.
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January 10: Dr. Marshall Griffith
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The Magic Flute holds many mysteries and secrets, and not all of them are musical. Dr. Griffith discusses Mozart’s famous opera and its often hidden connections to the Masonic order. |
| January 17: Joela Jones |
Joela Jones has been passionate for many things throughout her career, from ice skating to playing the accordion and with significant finesse in concert piano for The Cleveland Orchestra. Hear what drives this creative spirit. |
| January 24: Kimberley Meier-Sims |
Take a look at the world of performance through the eyes of CIM’s youngest performers. The Sato Center for Suzuki Studies figures prominently in the international Suzuki movement with 145 families participating at CIM and 38 pedagogy students in the Conservatory. A concert in October 2008 celebrated the center’s founders, Sam and Sarah Sato where students and director Kimberley Meier-Sims expressed their passion for music. |
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January 31: Alisa Weilerstein
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Ali Weilerstein began her career at a very young age, right here at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She participated in the Young Artist Program before moving on to Juilliard and Columbia University. Her star is rising fast and we thought it would be good to catch up with this dynamic and talented cellist.
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February 7: Dr. Kamal Chemali
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Dr. Chemali was quite a hit this summer when the CIM Women’s Committee invited him to present his research on music and the brain for an audience that overflowed in Mixon Hall. Discover his fascinating theories on why music makes us feel as we do.
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| February 14: Eric Charnofsky |
Eric Charnofsky is devoted to the fabulous musical humor that is PDQ Bach. His performances of the music of this illusive composer (AKA Peter Schickele) are legendary. Join us as he unravels some musical mischief in this behind-the-scenes look at Bach’s other child.
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| February 21: Joel Krosnick |
Joel Krosnick, cellist with the famed Juilliard String Quartet, has been a mentor and teacher for many years. He has made many trips to CIM over the years and is quite impressed with the chamber music that goes on here. His years with the Quartet include Grammy Awards, many world premieres and recordings. Merry reveals the whole story behind this legendary artist.
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| February 28: Keith Fitch |
CIM stands out as an exceptional school for composition. Its first president, Ernest Bloch, set the stage for the creative process to be at the forefront of the school. Donald Erb, among many other great leaders in the development of new music and composers, have studied and taught at CIM. Meet Keith Fitch, the newest head of the composition department who will guide students and take CIM to the next level in this ongoing creative pursuit.
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| March 7: Josh Smith |
The flute is an amazing instrument and when in the right hands can be magical. Josh Smith is one of those leading artists who can make the instrument sing above the orchestra, or soar as a soloist or collaborative chamber music partner. Meet Josh and find out how he guides his students at CIM and provides an outstanding role model, while creating new recordings and performing around the world.
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| March 14: Antonio Pompa-Baldi |
Music and Art are linked in many ways. Music can create the sounds the visual artist may have had in mind or add a new dimension to what we see. Pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi has performed recently at the Cleveland Museum of Art and shares his thoughts on how these two art form can complement each other.
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| March 21: Richard Goode |
Pianist Richard Goode is a formidable artist who is hailed for music making of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness. His ability to enter and illuminate the different worlds of each composer he plays has inspired one critic to remark, “You’d swear the composer himself was at the keyboard, expressing musical thoughts that had just come into his head.”
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| March 28: String Quartets at CIM |
CIM is renowned for its outstanding chamber music program. Students from around the world come to learn from some of the best teachers and artists in the country. A great emphasis on chamber music has always been a critical part of the education and music making here – the Cleveland Quartet was founded here; the Cavani String Quartet has been in residence for 20 years. This show welcomes founding Cleveland Quartet members Paul Katz, Donald Weilerstein and Peter Salaff along with members of the Cavani as they explore why CIM and string quartets make such beautiful music together.
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