The CIM Advantage: Alumni Report Chronicles Record Success

CLEVELAND, June 30, 2023 – One need not live in Cleveland to witness the advantage of a degree and training from the Cleveland Institute of Music. One only need live near a major concert hall.  

For proof, consider the latest report on CIM alumni job appointments, below. Almost everywhere great music was made in the last 12 months, CIM graduates won jobs, including prominent positions.  

“There’s a reason the world’s most talented young musicians consistently choose a CIM education,” said Paul W. Hogle, President & CEO of CIM. “CIM prepares students for the world stage and the world’s greatest ensembles. Simply put: the CIM advantage prioritizes students achieving the careers of their dreams.”  

Over the course of the past 12 months, CIM graduates won nearly 100 job appointments ranging from orchestra positions and seats in chamber music ensembles to a wide array of academic and administrative posts. 

Cleveland graduates winning auditions hailed from all over the U.S. and around the world and included degree holders from CIM’s undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs as well as graduates of CIM’s Young Artist Program, Robinson Orchestral Career Fellowship and Artist Diploma and Professional Studies tracks. 

Among the many appointments were positions in the famous “Big Five” orchestras of Cleveland, Boston and New York, as well as the internationally esteemed orchestras of Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, Seattle and Kansas City. Together, these groups represent the vanguard of classical music and the nation’s cultural beacons.  

CIM alumni also won positions in respected chamber music ensembles and earned faculty appointments at celebrated colleges, universities or conservatories. Others found success behind the scenes, landing administrative positions with leading orchestras and performing arts institutions.  

All of these appointments join the throng of CIM alumni populating the world of music since the school’s founding in 1920. At home in Ohio, well over half of the musicians in The Cleveland Orchestra are connected to CIM as members of the faculty, alumni or both, while 20 percent of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is connected to CIM as alumni. Worldwide, CIM graduates routinely go on to command the most celebrated stages, compose impactful new music, and produce award-winning recordings.  

“These new hires are further examples of CIM's uncommon ability to shape the future of classical music,” said Scott Harrison, CIM’s Executive Vice President & Provost.  

“Every one of them bears out our standard of artistry and intellect and proves that we are serious about our pledge to help the world’s finest music students fulfill their dreams and potential. A degree from CIM can open any musical door.” 

 

ALUMNI JOB APPOINTMENTS SINCE JUNE 2022 

A list of recent alumni appointments is below, in alphabetical order. Please note that several names could not be included, as their appointments are recent and have not been announced publicly. Individual photos are available upon request.  

 

VIOLIN  

Brian Allen (BM ’16, MM ’17, Laredo/Preucil), temporary violin, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 

Asher Blackburn (BM, O. Kaler), first violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Kaylee Bontrager (BM, Lee/Setzer), first violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Arianna Brusubardis (MM, I. Kaler), violin, Kansas City Symphony 

Victoria Gelman (2021-22, I. Kaler), first violin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 

Kimia Ghaderi (MM ’15, Preucil), assistant principal second violin, Grand Rapids Symphony 

Jisoo Kim (BM ’23, I. Kaler), second violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Minju Kim (BM ’09, MM ’11, Kantor), assistant professor of violin, Boston University School of Music 

Alina Kobialka (BM ’20, MM ’21, I. Kaler), violin, New York Philharmonic 

Konrad Kowal (BM ’20, MM ’21, DMA, O. Kaler/Lowe), concertmaster, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Victoria Lewis (MM ’15, Kwuon), assistant concertmaster, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion 

Ashley Odom (MM ’20, O. Kaler), first violin, Nashville Symphony 

Timothy Peters (BM ’01, Preucil), associate concertmaster, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra 

Jessica Ryou (MM ’14, Preucil), first violin, North Carolina Symphony 

Jessica Schmidt Bergeron (MM ’20, Kwuon), associate principal second violin, Erie Philharmonic 

Michael Siess (BM ’17, Preucil), first violin, Pacific Symphony 

Genevieve Smelser (BM ’17, Rose), first violin, The Cleveland Orchestra 

Carina Yee (MM, Lee/Setzer), second violin, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Patrick Yim (BM ’12, MM ’14, Preucil/Updegraff), assistant professor of violin, University of Notre Dame 

Cristian Zimmerman (BM ’16, MM ’18, Sloman/Updegraff), first violin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 

 

VIOLA  

Alex Antonio (BM ’23, Irvine/Ramsey), viola, Virginia Symphony Orchestra  

Susan Bengtson Price (BM ’16, Irvine), viola, KAIA String Quartet, and adjunct viola professor, Carthage College 

Eric Cheng (PS ’23, Collins/Konopka), viola, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Matthew Cohen (BM ’11, Irvine), viola, Formosa Quartet 

Colin Henley (MM ’22, Konopka), viola, CityMusic Cleveland 

Gordan Liu (MM, Ramsey), acting principal viola, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Cristina Micci-Barreca (BM ’21, MM ’23, Irvine/Ramsey), viola, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera 

Gabriel Napoli (MM ’19, Jackobs/Vernon), viola, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 

Christine Sherlock (BM ’10, Irvine), principal viola, Great Falls Symphony 

Tyler Sieh (BM ’04, PS ’06, Jackobs/Ramsey), associate principal viola, Omaha Symphony  

Chloé Thominet (YAP ’13, BM ’16, Irvine), temporary viola, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 

 

CELLO  

Kyle Anderson (BM ’17, Robinson), cello, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra 

Joanna Blendulf (BM ’94, Harris), professor of music, Indiana University 

Jessamyn Fry (BM ’21, Kraut), cello, Delaware Symphony Orchestra 

Daniel Kaler (BM ’20, Kosower), cello, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 

Karim Maggio (BM, Kraut), cello, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

Benjamin Mekinulov (BM, Kraut), principal cello, Charleston Symphony 

Samuel Sykes (BM ’23, Kraut), cello, Canton Symphony Orchestra  

Sæunn Thorsteinsdottir (BM ’06, Aaron), artist in residence, Iceland Symphony Orchestra 

Nora Willauer (MM ’20, PS ’22, DMA, Geber/Kosower/Kraut), adjunct cello faculty, The University of Akron 

 

DOUBLE BASS  

Stephen Castiglione (BM ’21, Dixon), principal double bass, West Michigan Symphony 

Drew Collins (2018-22, Zadinsky), double bass, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 

Gerald Torres (PS ’11, Bradetich/Dimoff), double bass, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra 

 

WOODWINDS  

Jaren Atherholt (BM ’04, Mack), assistant professor of oboe, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville  

Jessica Chancey (BM ’21, Fink), flute/piccolo, Louisville Orchestra 

Gunnar Owen Hirthe (PS ’13, Cohen), solo clarinet, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble 

Nathan Hughes (BM ’98, Mack), principal oboe, Minnesota Orchestra 

Mark Huskey (BM ’13, Smith), flute, US Naval Academy Band 

Lauren Keating (MM ’18, Rathbun), English horn, Naples Philharmonic and New Mexico Philharmonic 

Alex Liedtke (BM ’12, Camus), assistant principal oboe, Toronto Symphony Orchestra 

Kelly Mozeik (BM ’12, Rosenwein), principal oboe, Charleston Symphony 

James Romeo (MM ’12, Smith), piccolo, Dallas Symphony Orchestra 

Melissa Scott (MM ’08, Rathbun/Rosenwein), oboe, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, and second oboe, Grant Park Orchestra 

Brendon Sill (MM ’20, Clouser), bassoon, New World Symphony 

Samuel Watson (2020-22, Stees), contrabassoon, Boston Symphony Orchestra 

 

BRASS 

Meghan Guegold Hege (MM ’10, King), horn, The Cleveland Orchestra 

Kevin Karabell (PS ’18, Miller), principal trumpet, Jacksonville Symphony 

Daniel Lewis (MM ’11, Sachs), trumpet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 

Zachary Litty (MM ’22, AD, Hawes), bass trombone, Toledo Symphony 

Micah Northam (BM, King), principal horn, Canton Symphony Orchestra 

 

PERCUSSION 

James Leonard (BM ’22, Damoulakis/Yancich), percussion, Greenville Symphony 

Peter Nichols (BM ’19, Damoulakis/Yancich), timpani, Toledo Symphony 

Kevin Ritenauer (MM ’18, Damoulakis), percussion, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 

 

HARP 

Emily Carpenter (MM ’22, Kondonassis), adjunct professor of harp, Oklahoma City University 

Meredith Clark (MM ’10, Kondonassis), solo/principal harp, Royal Swedish Opera 

Grace Roepke (BM ’19, MM ’21, AD ’23, Kondonassis), principal harp, Louisville Orchestra 

 

KEYBOARD  

Constance Bergmann (BM ’80), Oakton College Six Piano Ensemble 

Michelle Cann (BM ’09, MM ’10, Schenly/D. Shapiro), piano faculty, Manhattan School of Music 

Hannah Koby (MM ’20, Wilson), contributing faculty in organ, Dickinson College 

Sol Rizzato (MM ’23, Wilson), lead technician and tonal associate, Muller Pipe Organ Company 

Michael Schaner (MM ’12, Wilson), university organist, organ professor and collaborative keyboard artist, Carroll University 

Anne Waltner (DMA ’10, AD ’11, Pontremoli/Radosavljevich), principal keyboard, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Sioux City Symphony Orchestra 

Eric Wicks (BM ’01, MM ’03, Wilson), organ faculty, Colorado College 

 

VOICE  

Bethany Mamola (MM ’13, Schiller), assistant teaching professor of vocal studies, Emory University 

Tyler Evatt-Young (DMA ’22, Southern), visiting assistant professor of voice, Appalachian State University 

Jeremy Frank (MM ’99, Pastor), chorus director, LA Opera 

 

CONDUCTING  

Mélisse Brunet (PS ’12, Topilow), music director, Lexington Philharmonic 

Duo Shen (PS ’22, Parameswaran/Topilow), assistant conductor, Grand Rapids Symphony 

Yun Song Tay (MM ’18, Topilow), music director, Golden State Youth Orchestra 

Sunny Xia (BM ’19, MM ’20, Sloman/Topilow), associate conductor, Seattle Symphony 

John Young Shik Concklin (2010-11, Topilow), music director, Spartanburg Philharmonic 

 

COMPOSITION  

Mark Nowakowski (PS ’08, Brouwer/Schoenfeld), associate professor of music, Kent State University 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE  

Nishana Dobbeck (MM ’11, Bradetich/Dimoff), assistant librarian, The Metropolitan Opera 

Elizabeth Etter (MM ’90, DMA ’99, Ceasar/Epstein), executive director, Kingston Chamber Music Festival 

Ryan Finefrock (MM ’14, Clouser), personnel assistant, The Cleveland Orchestra 

Deanna Hoying (BM ’86, Schmitter/Solis), executive director, Symphony New Hampshire 

Peter Kjome (BM ’89, Mack), president and CEO, The Phoenix Symphony 

Rachel Kribbs (MM ’09, Clouser), director of new business, The FORM Group 

Ted Nelson (MM ’97, Harris), vice president of operations and artistic planning, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance 

Anne Rodda (MM ’91, Harris), director, Michael Hill International Violin Competition 

 

### 

 

Cleveland Institute of Music 

The Cleveland Institute of Music empowers the world’s most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential. Its graduates command the most celebrated and revered stages in the world as soloists, leading roles, chamber musicians and ensemble members; compose meaningful, award-winning new repertoire; produce Grammy Award-winning recordings; and are highly sought-after teaching artists, administrators and thought leaders. A testament to the excellence of a CIM education, more than half of the members of The Cleveland Orchestra are connected to CIM as members of the faculty, alumni or both, and CIM alumni occupy hundreds of chairs in major orchestras worldwide. The school’s increasingly diverse collegiate and pre-college student bodies benefit from access to world-renowned visiting artists, intensive study with CIM’s stellar faculty and the rich curriculum offered by CIM’s partner, Case Western Reserve University. A leader among its peers, CIM is the largest presenter of free performances, master classes and community concerts in the Midwest, hosting hundreds of events each year on campus and at locations regionwide, including Severance Music Center. Explore cim.edu to learn more.