From the Cleveland Cello Society archives, an overview of our early history.
THE BEGINNING:
The formation of the Cleveland Cello Society!
Early in January 1997, a small group gathered at the home of Ida Mercer, an active cello teacher and performer in Cleveland, to discuss the formation of an organization for cello enthusiasts, to include students of all ages and skill levels, amateurs, professionals, and non-playing cello fans. The group that evening chose “the Cleveland Cello Society” as its name, and wrote its mission statement, unchanged since then:
“The mission of the Cleveland Cello Society is to foster greater appreciation for and enjoyment of the cello and musical arts through performance, education, and the sharing of ideas.”
The group also wrote out the initial strategy of the Cleveland Cello Society (CCS), which has remained unchanged in spirit, but which has evolved with the times in its specifics. The group had a lively discussion that evening about possible offerings to its members, including:
A bi-monthly newsletter telling of Cleveland-area cello performances and related events.
A bi-monthly masterclass taught by area professional cellists and, hopefully, taught by guest artists who happen to be in the area.
Opportunities to read cello ensemble music. Depending on the popularity of the cello ensemble, this group could meet more frequently and take on a life of its own.
Weekend workshops covering a variety of special-interest topics.
The group also agreed to modest annual dues for membership, necessary to cover the costs of creating and mailing the CCS newsletters, setting rates at $8 for students; $15 for families (with 2 or more students), and $20 for regular adult memberships (these rates have only modestly gone up over the last 26 years). Since every person working on behalf of the CCS does so as a volunteer, every cent of dues and ticket sales goes directly into event costs and scholarships.
These were the people who were present at the founding meeting, and these are the positions they agreed to assume:
And finally, the founding members agreed to start off with a bang, inviting Janos Starker, one of the great cellists of the 20th century, to give a masterclass as its inaugural event. (Ida Mercer, who had studied with Mr. Starker at the Banff Center for the Arts in the summer of 1978, and attended numerous of his masterclasses over the years, agreed to utilize that 19-year-old connection to contact him: and it worked!)
Announcements were posted in Cleveland-area universities, music schools, coffee houses, and libraries, and sent to area cello teachers. Thus, the Cleveland Cello Society was born!
The kick-off event did indeed take place, with Mr. Starker most generously donating his services. The CCS presented his masterclass on May 2, 1997, at 3:30 PM in Harkness Chapel on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, free and open to the public. The CCS is forever grateful for Mr. Starker’s generosity in helping the CCS take off in the manner it did.
Stephen Geber, President (The Cleveland Orchestra, Principal Cellist)
Marta Jasberg, Newsletter, (Cleveland area cellist)
Charlie Gardiner, Treasurer (businessman and amateur cellist) [ since deceased ]
Ida Mercer, Program Director (cellist, Ohio Chamber & Cleveland Opera Orchestras)
Pamela Kelly, Cello Ensemble Chair (cello faculty, Cleveland Institute of Music [CIM] Preparatory Division)
The Janos Starker masterclass program:
Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello, Op. 8 (1st movement) by Zoltan Kodaly
Eric Sun, (Senior at CIM, student of Stephen Geber)
Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125 (1st movement) by Sergei Prokofiev
Julie Albers (11th grade, CIM Young Artist Program, student of Richard Aaron) Elizabeth De Mio, piano
Suite No. 5 in C Minor for Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude) by J.S. Bach
Amir Eldan (Junior at CIM, student of Richard Aaron)
Suite No. 6 in D Major for Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude) by J.S. Bach
Carrie Stinson (Senior at CIM, student of Alan Harris)
Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello, Op. 8 (3rd movement) by Zoltan Kodaly
Ted Nelson (2nd year M.M. at CIM, student of Alan Harris)