Title: |
Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Records |
Repository: |
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722 http://www.wrhs.org |
Creator: |
Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Records |
Dates: |
1937-1992 |
Quantity: |
6.20 linear feet (7 containers) |
Abstract: |
The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1938, by three musicians, Irving Klein, Alfred Zetzer, and Robert Zupnick. They envisioned the orchestra as a training ground for young musicians seeking orchestral experience towards future professional careers and as an outlet for talented amateur musicians. F. Karl Grossman, professor of music at Western Reserve University, was the first conductor and music director of the group, serving for 25 years. Affiliated with Western Reserve University in its early years, the orchestra performed at various locations. Later conductors included Zoltan Rozsnyai, Jose Serebrier, Robert Marcellus, John Ross, and William Slocum. In 1973, the orchestra first sponsored the Young Person's Concerto Competition, later renamed the Frieda Schumacher Concerto Competition. The orchestra also extended its outreach into the community, playing concerts for specific ethnic groups at the Bohemian National Hall, for the Polish-American Congress and the Lithuanian community, and at annual Martin Luther King Day concerts held at Cuyahoga Community College. Beginning in 1976, the orchestra performed under the name Cleveland Civic Orchestra, changing its name back to the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra in 1981. Throughout its history, the orchestra performed new works by local composers, including F. Karl Grossman, Leslie Adams, Ernest Miller, Robert Rollin, Daniel Shell, and Peter Ware. It featured soloists such as Josef Gingold, Daniel Majeske, Phil Myers, Eunice Podis, Linda Cerone, Jean Kraft, Richard Weiss, John Mack, Roman Rudnytsky, and many others. The collection consists of histories, articles of incorporation and constitutions, minutes, correspondence, notes, manuals and notebooks, articles, newspaper clippings, publicity materials, financial materials, grant applications, membership lists, reports, programs, and scrapbooks. |
Identification: |
MS 4712 |
Location: |
closed stacks |
Language: |
The records are in English |
The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra (f. 1938) was founded by three young musicians, Irving Klein, Alfred Zetzer, and Robert Zupnick. Dr. F. Karl Grossman, professor of music at Western Reserve University, accepted their offer to become the first conductor and music director of the group. He held that post for the first twenty-five years of the orchestra's existence. The orchestra, while remaining "amateur" in the sense that no personnel (other than the conductor, concertmaster, and soloists) received monetary compensation for their participation, has since become one of the most widely respected musical organizations of Cleveland, Ohio. It has, since its inception, been both a training ground for young musicians seeking orchestral experience towards future professional careers and an outlet for talented amateur musicians.
The Cleveland Philharmonic first performed on November 13th, 1938, in a concert sponsored by the Cleveland Society for Fine Arts and held at the Carter Hotel. Its first formal concert took place at Severance Hall on February 11, 1939. Affiliated with Western Reserve University in its early years, the orchestra performed concerts several times each season in various locations. After the departure of Dr. Grossman in 1963, George Cleve served as conductor for the 1964-1965 season. With the appointment of Zoltan Rozsnyai as conductor from 1965 to 1968 and with the incorporation of the orchestra as a nonprofit institution in 1968, the orchestra regained the stability of the Grossman years. During this period, Masonic Auditorium became the site of most Philharmonic concerts.
The 1970s were a time of innovation and change for the Philharmonic. Conductors included Jose Serebrier, who served from 1968 to 1971 and then went on to become an internationally-known conductor; Robert Marcellus, principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra, who served from 1971 to 1977; and John Ross, who served from 1977 to 1979. In 1973, the orchestra sponsored the first Young Person's Concerto Competition, with the winner performing a concerto with the orchestra. The competition is now known as the Frieda Schumacher Concerto Competition, in honor of a local music teacher and Philharmonic supporter. The Philharmonic also sought to extend itself into the community by playing special concerts for specific ethnic groups, such as at the Bohemian National Hall, for celebrations sponsored by the Polish-American Congress, and special Lithuanian community celebrations. The Philharmonic also played special concerts for the Lake Erie Girl Scout Council (girls could earn a merit badge for attending concerts) and for groups of mentally handicapped individuals. In 1976, the Philharmonic changed its name to the Cleveland Civic Orchestra, in an effort to appeal to the community at large and to further differentiate itself from the Cleveland Orchestra. It performed under this name until 1981, when orchestra board and playing members voted to change the name back to the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Philharmonic continued its community outreach programs into the 1980s. Orchestra concert sites varied, with the orchestra at times affiliated with Cleveland State University, and eventually with Cuyahoga Community College, performing concerts at its metropolitan and western campuses. With Cuyahoga Community College, the orchestra has sponsored annual Martin Luther King Day concerts. The orchestra also continued to perform special event concerts at other venues, including Cain Park and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. In 1981, after several seasons of guest conductors, the Philharmonic appointed William Slocum its music director and conductor. With strong board and officer leadership in the 1980s, the Philharmonic received several grants from the Ohio Arts Council and other organizations, and developed a five-year plan. During the 1984, 1985, and 1986 seasons, the orchestra presented Sohio Artist-in-Residence programs through grants obtained from the Organization of Ohio Orchestras and paid for by the Standard Oil Company. The Philharmonic also continued to sponsor and perform new works by local composers, including Leslie Adams, Ernest Miller, Robert Rollin, Daniel Shell, and Peter Ware. The Philharmonic has throughout its history featured local and nationally-known soloists, including many members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Soloists have included Josef Gingold, Daniel Majeske, Phil Myers, Eunice Podis, Linda Cerone, Jean Kraft, Richard Weiss, John Mack, Roman Rudnytsky, and many others. During the 1987-1988 season, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for F. Karl Grossman
The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Records, 1937-1992, consist of histories, articles of incorporation and constitutions, minutes, correspondence, notes, manuals and notebooks, articles, newspaper clippings, publicity materials, financial materials, grant applications, membership lists, reports, programs, and scrapbooks.
This collection is of value to researchers interested in the history of music and musical groups in Cleveland, Ohio from the 1930s to the 1980s. It also chronicles the ties of a fine arts organization to the greater community it serves. Because the collection spans a fifty year period, it would be of interest to researchers interested in the growth and development of fine arts organizations over time.
None.
Separated Material: Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to PG 478 Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Photographs. Reel-to-reel tapes, audio cassette tapes, and videotapes have been removed to the audio-visual collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4712 Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, 1992
Processed by Deborah R. Shell in 1995.