by Daniel Hathaway
Samantha Spaccasi is joining the staff of ClevelandClassical.com as its fourth annual Nicholas R. Jones Young Writer Fellow for the months of June and July. The position has been renamed in honor of Jones, the recently retired Oberlin College English professor who served as a distinguished correspondent for the publication since its founding in 2008.
A Maryland native and 2017 graduate of Oberlin College in Environmental Studies, Spaccasi studied music criticism with Daniel Hathaway, Mike Telin, and Donald Rosenberg and served as a Conservatory Communications Assistant during her last two semesters at the College. Additionally, she was a staff writer for the Arts section of the Oberlin Review, and a disc jockey for the college radio station, WOBC, where she built shows around such diverse topics as U.K. Grime; The Memphis Sound from Gospel to Blues to Funk; Second Wave Ska; Samba, the Music of Brazil; and Women Artists through the Decades.
Spaccasi said, “I’m excited and honored to have this opportunity to hone my writing skills and explore the classical music scene of Northeast Ohio.”
At ClevelandClassical.com, Spaccasi will conduct artist interviews, and write concert previews and reviews. She will participate in daily editorial meetings and strategy sessions with editors Daniel Hathaway and Mike Telin, and will interact with artists, presenters and publicists in the music industry. Spaccasi will also be provided the opportunity to learn about and assist with all matters associated with the daily operations and management of the website. In the fall, she will take up graduate studies in live arts presenting at the University of Miami in Florida.
Executive Editor Mike Telin said, “Samantha was an exemplary student all year, and we’re happy to have her on board for these two months. It will benefit the publication as well as help prepare her as she moves on to her graduate studies.”
Published on ClevelandClassical.com June 6, 2017.
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