The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) has announced that guitarist Damian Goggans and cellist Evan Rowland-Seymore will be the first recipients of CIM’s Minority Artist Fellowship (MAF). The program aims to provide opportunities for diverse students between grades 7-9 looking to engage seriously in music. The fellows receive weekly private instruction from CIM Preparatory faculty members, as well as participate in ensembles and classes. Over the course of the year, they will have the opportunity to perform, as well as to attend various master classes and workshops. The students and their families meet regularly with CIM student mentors and program leaders to set goals and share feedback. The fellows receive full scholarships for the MAF program.
Damian Goggans is a ninth grader at Cleveland School of the Arts. He began studying guitar in 2016, when the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society began a program at Citizens Leadership Academy. He has engaged in vocal activities, in addition to teaching himself to play harmonica, drums and piano. Goggans has been studying music theory independently online, and has composed works for solo instrument and small ensemble.
Eighth grader Evan Rowland-Seymour has been playing cello since 2009, and double bass since 2015. He is currently studying at the University School in Shaker Heights. At CIM he was selected as a participant in the Sphinx Performance Academy, a two-week intensive chamber-music program for young African-American and Latino musicians. Rowland-Seymour is a member of CIM’s Youth Orchestra Camerata and Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. — Hannah Schoepe