by Daniel Hathaway

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

On June 30, 1958, Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen was born in Helsinki. Although he served as music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Salonen considered himself primarily as a composer (he took up conducting, he said, to guarantee that his works would be performed), but his fate was sealed when he stepped in at the last minute for Michael Tilson Thomas to lead Mahler’s Third Symphony in London.

Click here to watch a later performance of Mahler 3 with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London, when Salonen returned in October 2017 to the scene of his earlier triumph. Later, he stunned the concert world by stepping down early from his San Francisco position. [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

On Saturday at 11 am – A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights for Karel Paukert (1935-2025), the long-time curator of musical arts at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Organist and Choirmaster at St. Paul’s. The service will be live streamed here.

The weekend is otherwise full of events presented by Ohio Light Opera at the College of Wooster, ChamberFest Cleveland, Tri-C JazzFest, The Cleveland Opera, and the Stow Symphony.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Apollo’s Fire has announced details of its 34nd season under the direction of Jeannette Sorrell, featuring 29 concerts of 8 programs at venues across Northeast Ohio. Click here to read or download a press release.

WEEKEND ALMANAC:

June 28 — by Jarrett Hoffman

Look past the long series of discarded marriages — more than one ending with a beheading — and you might find interest in the musical side of Henry VIII (born on this date in 1491). [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

2:00 pm – Ohio Light Opera. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel in Freedlander Theatre, College of Wooster.

5:30 pm – Tri-C JazzFest. Centennial Tribute to Oscar Peterson with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, featuring Benny Green and Dan Wilson. Mimi Ohio Theatre.

7:00 pm – Fryderyk Chopin Institute of Ohio. Summer Piano Series: “Fantasy” with Konrad Binienda at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Chagrin Falls.

7:15 pm – Tri-C JazzFest. Stanley Clarke N•4EVER. Connor Palace.

7:30 pm – ChamberFest Cleveland. “Inventions of Memory” in Harkness Chapel at Case.

8:00 pm – Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. Faculty Recital. Warner Concert Hall.

9:00 pm – Tri-C JazzFest. Sun Ra Arkestra. Mimi Ohio Theatre.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.:

NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE VIOLIN CHANNEL:

The Violin Channel reports that the Verona Quartet has won the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association’s Ann Divine Educator Award for 2025, “in recognition of outstanding outreach programming for children and youth in the United States. [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

2:00 pm – Ohio Light Opera opens George and Ira Gershwin’s Tip-Toes in Freedlander Theatre, at the College of Wooster.

6:30 pm – Canton Symphony Summer Serenades presents a string quartet at Bimeler Park in Brewster.

7:30 pm – Oberlin Organ Academy Faculty Recital by Jonathan Moyer at Peace Community Church.

7:30 pm – ChamberFest Cleveland’s “Sing Hallelujah!” in Mixon Hall at CIM is sold out.

8:00 pm – Tri-C JazzFest opens with Trombone Shorty (pictured) & Orleans Avenue at Connor Palace.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Cooper International Competition has released the names of the 21 pianists ages 13-18 who will compete in its 2025 event at the Oberlin Conservatory and Severance Music Center from July 20-24. [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

2:00 pm – Ohio Light Opera. Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon. Freedlander Theatre, The College of Wooster.

7:00 pm – Kent Blossom Music Festival. WindSync (Garrett Hudson, flute, Noah Kay, oboe, Graeme Steele Johnson, clarinet, Kara LaMoure, bassoon, Anni Hochhalter, horn) with Jon Kimura Parker, piano. Ludwig Recital Hall, Kent State University.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.:

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

On this date in 1767, the super-prolific German composer George Philipp Telemann died in Hamburg, where he had earlier used his pending appointment to cantorships in Leipzig to negotiate a raise from the Hamburg authorities (J.S. Bach, Leipzig’s third choice after No. 2 had turned them down, remained a friend). [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

7:30 pm – Oberlin Organ Academy. Faculty Recital by Mark Edwards, harpsichord. Kulas Recital Hall. Free.

8:00 pm – ChamberFest Cleveland. “High Voltage.” Danish cellist Jonathan Swensen (pictured) at The Hermit Club, one of America’s oldest private clubs devoted to the performing arts (1629 Dodge Court, Cleveland.)

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

New Board Members for Tuesday Musical

Justin Chenault and Jeff Stenroos are joining the board of Tuesday Musical after being elected during the arts organization’s annual meeting on June 3 at Stan Hywet Hall

Beginning July 1, Chenault will serve as an at-large member and Stenroos will serve as co-chair of Tuesday Musical’s Brahms Allegro Junior Music Club for K-12 students. Read more here.

David Finckel & Wu Han end 25 years with Music @ Menlo

After more than two decades of visionary leadership, world-renowned musicians David Finckel and Wu Han have announced that they will step away from their roles as Founding Artistic Directors of the acclaimed Music@Menlo festival and institute, following the 2026 summer season. [Read more…]

by Daniel Hathaway

HAPPENING TODAY:

7:30 pm – Oberlin Organ Academy. Guest Recital. Kirk Rich, organ (pictured). Warner Concert Hall. Free.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

On this date in 1887, American teacher and conductor John Finley Williamson was born in Canton. He died in Toledo in 1964 after an illustrious career that included the founding of the Westminster Choir School in Dayton. After a move to Princeton, NJ, the institution, renamed Westminster Choir College, became part of Ryder University. After merges and changes in ownership, its future is uncertain. [Read more…]

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

SATURDAY:

2:00 pm – Ohio Light Opera. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Freedlander Theatre, Wooster.

7:30 pm – ChamberFest Cleveland. “Starry Night.” Program includes Errollyn Wallen’s Dervish for Cello and Piano, and Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht at Federated Church in Chagrin Falls.

SUNDAY:

Cancelled due to heat advisory: 3:30 pm – Canton Symphony Summer Serenades. Brass Quintet at Quail Hollow Park, Hartville.

4:00 pm – The Cleveland Opera. Gala concert featuring arias and duets in Saint Casimir Church.

7:30 pm – Oberlin Organ Academy. Guest Recital by Angela Kraft Cross in Finney Chapel.

For details, addresses, and ticket information, please visit our Concert Listings.

WEEKEND ALMANAC:

by Jarrett Hoffman

On June 21, 1899, Czech composer Pavel Haas was born in Brno, and died at the hands of the Nazis 45 years later at Auschwitz. [Read more…]

HAPPENING TODAY:

12:15 pm – Friends of the McGaffin Carillon. Lunchtime Carillon Concert by  Keiran Cantilina.

7:00 pm – Renovare Music. To Be Free: A Juneteenth Concert.

7:30 pm – ChamberFest Cleveland. Variations on Love and Loss, featuring the world premiere of Judith Markovich’s Oh, My Son…

7:30 pm – Solon Community Band. Summer Sounds: Songs That Make You Sing and Dance.

8:00 pm – Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. Faculty Recital (limited seating available).

For details, locations, and ticket information, consult our Concert Listings.

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

This feature has been delayed for technical reasons. Please check back later.

by Daniel Hathaway

NEWS BRIEFS:

On Wednesday, The Cleveland Orchestra announced four new appointments to its roster of musicians (pictured). “The Orchestra welcomed Second Violinist Gawon Kim last fall, and this summer will welcome three more members: Zubin Hathi as Principal Timpani and Brandon Mason as Section Bass in July, followed by Peter Nichols as Assistant Principal Timpani and Section Percussion in August. Now entering his 24th year as Music Director, Franz Welser-Möst has appointed more than half of the musicians currently performing with The Cleveland Orchestra.” Read more here.

HAPPENING TODAY:

At 2 pm, Ohio Light Opera raises the curtain on the second of its six summer shows, Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon, in Freedlander Theatre at The College of Wooster.

TODAY’S ALMANAC:

by Jarrett Hoffman

Today is Juneteenth — June 19, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. [Read more…]