Music performed by artists from around the region will fill the Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center at the Temple – Tifereth Israel’s Silver Hall beginning in September and continuing throughout the academic year.
Anchored by the Case Western Reserve University Department of Music, the inaugural Silver Hall Concert Series will bring 19 free musical performances to campus this year.
From gospel music to chamber ensembles, the series caters to varied interests. Each of the performing groups hails from the University Circle neighborhood or nearby communities, highlighting the area’s musical talent.
It also will show off Silver Hall at the Maltz Performing Arts Center—the main performance space that opened in 2015 after extensive renovations to transform it from a religious center into a state-of-the-art concert hall.
“This free series tackles several key components that help to define the niche of the Maltz Performing Arts Center,” said Randall Barnes, executive director of Tinkham Veale University Center and Maltz Performing Arts Center. “First, the celebration of the musical artistry of our students through the CWRU Music Department ensembles; second, the professional and semi-professional talent of the greater Cleveland area ensembles showcased here; and finally, the intersection of technology and heritage by delivering one-of-a-kind performances both in-person and live-streamed from Silver Hall, the historical showpiece of the Maltz Performing Arts Center.”
Visit the Silver Hall Concert Series website for more information and to reserve free tickets. The schedule of events, separated by performance group, is listed below.
CWRU Department of Music
Students in the university’s Department of Music will account for nine of the performances, with the CWRU Symphonic Winds, Case/University Circle Symphony Orchestra and CWRU Choirs participating.
CWRU Symphonic Winds
Sunday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.
Monday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m.
CWRU Symphonic Winds is a by-audition group composed of Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Institute of Music undergraduate and graduate student wind, brass and percussion players. Directed by Assistant Professor of Music Ryan Scherber, both music-major and non-major students comprise the group’s membership.
CWRU Choirs
Friday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Performing music from a wide swath of time periods and genres, this auditioned group of mixed voices sings both a cappella and with accompanied choral music. The group of Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Institute of Music undergraduate and graduate students performs smaller ensembles and also collaborates with other neighboring institutions.
Case/University Circle Symphony Orchestra
Monday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 3, at 3 p.m.
Monday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m.
All Case Western Reserve University students, faculty and community members who play a woodwind, brass, percussion or string instruments can audition for the Case/University Circle Symphony Orchestra. In addition to traditional orchestral pieces such as symphonies, overtures and suites, the group explores other genres, including rock and jazz.
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society
Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Classical Guitar Society will open its season as part of the Silver Hall Concert Series. Aiming to “teach, inspire and connect” people through music performed on the classical guitar, the society brings international artists to Cleveland and offers educational programming at local schools.
The concert will feature Stephen Aron, Colin Davin, and brothers Jeremy and Wesley Collins, principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra.
Cleveland Chamber Choir
Sunday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m.
Launched in 2015 to bring singers with varied professional careers together from around the Northeast Ohio region, the choir has built a repertoire spanning from the Renaissance era to contemporary pieces.
People for Your Life—Gospel Choir
Saturday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
People for Your Life is a faith-based intergenerational community choir that emphasizes scholasticism, community engagement, economic empowerment and mentoring. The group is offered through the Rhema Fellowship Church, of which People for Your Life founders Anthony T. Parker and his wife Antoinette McSears-Parker are senior pastors. Anthony T. Parker, a vocalist and songwriter, worked with his brother Johnny Parker, a writer, arranger and producer, to create the group.
ChamberFest Cleveland
Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra principal clarinet Franklin Cohen and daughter Diana Cohen, concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, founded ChamberFest Cleveland in 2012. Through ChamberFest Cleveland, the father-daughter duo organizes chamber music events “to nurture a deep family-like connection between musicians and audiences of all ages.”
CityMusic Cleveland
Thursday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m.
CityMusic Cleveland is a chamber orchestra that aims to break down barriers to classical music bringing it directly to residents around the city through free concerts in various neighborhoods. The group also uses its music to explore social issues.
Western Reserve Chorale
Sunday, March 24, at 3 p.m.
The Western Reserve Chorale is a volunteer-based nonprofit singing group. The chorale aims to enhance the lives of those living in the Cleveland area by giving free concerts featuring music from many periods and styles.
Heights Chamber Orchestra
Sunday, March 31, at 3 p.m.
The Heights Chamber Orchestra is based in Cleveland Heights and is composed of amateur and professional musicians. The orchestra’s goal is “to celebrate music as rich and diverse as the communities its members live in.”
Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Sunday, April 7, at 5 p.m.
Focusing on contemporary American music, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony was founded in 1980. The symphony’s performance will include works by the Cleveland Composers Guild set for dance by Cleveland’s Verb Ballets.
This event also is part of NEOSonicFest—A Northeast Ohio New Music Festival.
Chorale Arts Cleveland
Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m.
Chorale Arts Cleveland is composed of 60 to 70 singers, all of whom have diverse backgrounds. Coming together around community music-making, they sing works by both classical and living composers.
Suburban Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, May 12, at 3:30 p.m.
Formed in 1955 by a group of eight friends, the Suburban Symphony Orchestra has grown to an 80-plus member group. While the musicians primarily focus on symphonic music from the 18th through the 21st centuries, they also partner with choruses and soloists for large-scale works. They also have participated in world premieres, pop concerts and family concerts.