Cleveland Institute of Music (Cleveland, OH)
During a recent interview I conducted with the President of the Cleveland Institute of Music in late 2017, he told me that his school was aiming towards a future of tuition-free diversity.
The level of performance among the students at the school is inspiring; indeed, some of the best music students in the country – particularly those studying classical performance – are housed at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
And why not? The school’s “magic sauce” starts with Severance Hall, the home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Many of the faculty members teaching at the Cleveland Institute also perform with the Cleveland Orchestra, making this small conservatory a top choice for the aspiring orchestral musician of the 21st century.
Speaking of faculty, the school is noted for the close relationship the students have with their teachers. From my professional observation, it is a tight-knit community fostering both music as well as a relationship that extends well into a student’s professional career.
Like Juilliard, New England Conservatory, and the Manhattan School of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music has partnered with a major university for students looking to enroll into a joint-degree program. This university is Case Western Reserve University, one of the top private universities in the Midwest.
If you are interested in reading more about the school, I would recommend checking out the interview I did with their president, which I linked above.
BOTTOM LINE: Bold, visionary, and intimate, this Midwest classical conservatory is becoming increasingly selective as it aims towards a tuition-free future
University of Missouri at Kansas City (Kansas City, MO)
Too often, south-central USA is overlooked in favor of the east coast and west coast schools. UMKC is a true hidden-gem program with one of the most comprehensive music programs at the undergraduate and graduate school level.
Notably UMKC Conservatory of music alumnus Andres Salguero won a Latin Grammy award. Another recent alumnus, Hermon Mahari, graduated just seven years ago and is now one of the leading jazz trumpeters of his generation.
Other recent alumni have made their debut in the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, and have won major international competitions. You can read here more about the school and its student’s recent accomplishments.
Students of this college town particularly praise the city’s vibrant music scene. Particularly well-known is the city’s Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, home to the Kansas City Symphony. Many alumni of the school have performed in this historic institution.
BOTTOM LINE: UMKC represents one of the best music schools in a part of the country too often overlooked for excellence in music education.