Welcome to the Cleveland Public Library’s Music at Main digital archives. For more information on the Fine Arts Department’s Music at Main programs, please call 216.623.2848 or email finearts@cpl.org to join the mailing list.
Mariachi Santa Cecilia
We were pleased to have Mariachi Santa Cecilia perform in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and play traditional and historic songs of Mexico.
September 22, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Diana Chittester
Cleveland singer-songwriter DIana Chittester played a mix of original and cover songs in her folk-rock style.
September 1, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Cleveland Opera Theater
Cleveland Opera Theater thrilled audiences with a mix of classical favorites and Broadway standards featuring Bryant Bush and Clair Connelly.
August 5, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
The Singers’ Club of Cleveland
The Singers’ Club of Cleveland serenaded audience members with a program reflecting the themes from Lewis Carroll’s novel Alice in Wonderland.
June 2, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Peter Fletcher
Classical guitarist and Grammy award winner Peter Fletcher performed pieces by Bach, Haydn, and other classical composers.
May 5, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Austin “Walkin” Cane
The great Robert Lockwood Jr. built the Blues tradition in Cleveland and Austin “Walkin” Cane keeps it alive. A 2015 Blues Music Award Nominee for “Best New Artist Album”, Cane brings the delta blues to Cleveland, Ohio.
May 23, 2015
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
The Portersharks
We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early as The Portersharks serenaded us with traditional folk songs of Ireland.
March 3, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Jah Messengers
Jah Messengers returned to Cleveland Public Library in celebration of African-American History Month to bring everyone together through the power of music.
February 3, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Hillbilly Idol
Hillbilly Idol draws from the deep, rich well of American music to blend an original hybrid sound they call Town and Country Music.
January 6, 2018
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Victor Samalot
Cleveland instrumental guitarist Victor Samalot performed some of his original compositions as well as holiday favorites.
December 9, 2017
For additional photo’s, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Jackie Warren & Sammy DeLeon
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the premiere Latin Jazz musicians pianist Jackie Warren and percussionist Sammy DeLeon returned to Cleveland Public Library.
October 7, 2017
For additional photos, visit the Fine Arts Department Flickr page.
Alex Smith
Adirondack Mountain folk singer Alex Smith returned to the Cleveland Public Library to bring tales of life and love from the mountains.
September 2, 2017
Cleveland Opera Theater
Patrons were entertained by some of opera’s biggest hits by the Cleveland Opera Theater. Pieces by Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and Gershwin were among the songs performed by Clair Connelly and James Eder.
August 5, 2017
Cleveland Clinic Concert Band
The Cleveland Clinic Concert Band returned for their annual Fourth of July concert which featured marches, patriotic music, and other American classics that helped celebrate America’s Independence Day.
July 1, 2017
The Biasella Trio
The Biasella Trio, led by drummer Paul Biasella, performed jazz standards creating an afternoon of cool jazz.
June 3, 2017
Cleveland Chinese Music Ensemble
Northeast Ohio’s traditional Chinese orchestra returned to the library for a program of rare treasures from China’s classical music heritage, including instrumental pieces and poetic songs from the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, some dating back over 1,000 years. The ensemble performed on an array of instruments including dizi and xiao (bamboo flutes), guan (oboe), sheng (mouth organ), pipa (lute), and a variety of percussion. The ensemble was joined by two special guests: guqin (7-string zither) soloist Ke Li and vocalist Zhang Wei, both professors of musicology specializing in ancient Chinese music at China’s Jiangxi Normal University who are spending 2017-2018 as visiting scholars at Kent State University.
May 20, 2017
CIM Saturday
Violist Peter Ayuso performed Partita No. 2 in g minor BWV 1004 by Bach and Until Next Time by Kenji Bunch.
Pianist Mengyao Zhao performed Piano Sonata No. 30, op. 109 by Beethoven and Preludes (Book 1) by Debussy
April 1, 2017
Austin Walkin Cane
Cleveland blues guitarist Austin Walkin Cane returned to CPL to bring some of the delta blues to downtown Cleveland. Austin was joined by lead singer of Blue Lunch and CPL employee Pete London on harmonica.
March 11, 2017
Jah Messengers
In celebration of African-American History Moth, the Jah Messengers returned to Cleveland Public Library to bring everyone together with the power of music.
February 11, 2017
North Coast Winds
The North Coast Winds, formed by 5 former CIM alumni, performed a concert to stir the imagination with pieces by Pavel Haas, Elliot Carter, Irving Fine, and Darious Milhaud.
January 7, 2017
Elegance
Soprano Kathleen Bosl and friends performed a holiday concert.
December 5, 2016
CIM Saturday
Featuring Mark Liu, viola and the trio of Siyao Li, piano, Hosanna Carella, violin, and Elizabeth Glorioso-Wible the students performed pieces by Henri Vieuxtemps and Felix Mendelssohn.
November 12, 2016
CIM Saturday: CIM Trombone Quartet
The Cleveland Institute of Music’s Trombone Quartet entertained the crowd with a mix of classical, marches, and even music from James Bond movies.
October 1, 2016
The Gage Brothers
The Gage Brothers and their Americana sound come to Cleveland Public Library for a hand clappin’ foot stompin’ good ol’ time.
September 3, 2016
Victor Samalot
Cleveland accoustic guitarist Victor Samalot performed a mix of Latin, Jazz, Rock, World, and improv to the delight of the crowd.
August 13, 2016
Cleveland Clinic Concert Band
The Cleveland Clinic Concert Band performed a mix of marches and other patriotic music for the Fourth of July.
July 2, 2016
Sam Moss
Boston based folk singer/songwriter Sam Moss performed original and cover songs from his latest album.
June 4, 2016
Soumya Chakraverty
In celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Cleveland Pubic Library welcomed sarod player Soumya Chakraverty accompanied by Debu Nayak on tabla to perform traditonal Hindusthani instrumental music.
May 21, 2016
CIM Saturday
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles or solo performers from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our May concert featured Zhiya Lin, piano and the Chamber Music Outreach Ensemble (Jason Simon, piano, Michael Chien, piano, Tom Sullivan, piano).
Mr. Lin performed Piano Sonata No. 26 in Eb Major, Op. 81a by Ludwig van Beethoven. The Chamber Music Outreach Ensemble performed Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, ‘Archduke’ by Ludwig van Beethoven.
May 6, 2016
CIM Saturday: Espresso Trio
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles or solo performers from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our April concert featured The Espresso Trio (Teil Buck, oboe, Carly Gomez, bassoon, Dylan Lloyd, clarinet)
Their repertoire included Rustiques pour trio d’anches by Joseph Canteloube, Suite d’apres Corrette, Op. 161b by Darius Milhaud, Habanera by Paquito D’Rivera, Cinq pieces en Trio by Jacques Ibert, and Trio pour Hautbois, Clarinette et Basson by Georges Auric.
April 2, 2016
Alex Smith
Singer-songwriter Alex Smith performed songs from his latest album and brought some of his Adirondack folk music to Cleveland Public Library.
March 12, 2016
Jah Messengers
Celebrating African-American History Month, we jammed with Cleveland’s hottest Reggae Band, the Jah Messangers.
February 6, 2016
NEO Dixie
Cleveland State University faculty member Tom Lempner brought his Dixieland Jazz Band, NEO Dixie to play some spicy New Orleans Jazz. Pass the gumbo and laissez les bons temps rouler!
January 9, 2016
Daniel Bennett Group
New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has been hailed as one of the most original and unpredictable musical voices of his generation. Insite Magazine calls Bennett’s music, “refreshingly capricious and trippy.” The Village Voice raves, “saxophonist Daniel Bennett makes hay with an airy approach that’s buoyant enough to conjure notions of East African guitar riffs and Steve Reich’s pastoral repetition.” The Boston Herald describes Bennett’s music as “exploratory Folk-Jazz hybrid.” Timeout New York raves, “Daniel Bennett airs his lilting, potentially hypnotic compositions!”
December 5, 2015
CIM Saturday: CIM Brass Quintet
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles or solo performers from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our November concert featured the CIM Brass Quintet (Charles Miller/Paul Torrisi, trumpet, Connor Monday, horn, Felipe Brito, trombone, Jason Tanksley, tuba. )
Their repertoire included Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by G.F. Handel, The Entertainer by Scott Joplin, Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, Take the A Train by Billy Strayhorn and The Original Dixieland One-Step by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
November 7, 2015
CIM Saturday:
Dylan Kennedy
The Belka Quartet
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles or solo performers from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our October concert featured Dylan Kennedy, violin accompanied by Christine Hill, piano. Also performing was The Belka Quartet (Beatrice Hsieh/Charles Gleason, violin, Matthew Geise, viola, and Daniel Blumhard, cello).
Mr. Kennedy performed Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53 by Antonin Dvorak. The Belka Quartet performed String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, JB 1:105 “From My Life” by Bedrich Smetana.
October 3, 2015
Jackie Warren / Sammy Deleon Latin Jazz Quartet
The premiere Latin jazz quartet in Cleveland performed for Hispanic Heritage Month. Featuring Jackie Warren on piano, Sammy Deleon on timbales, Joe Miller on trumpet, and Cheito Hernandez on bass.
September 5, 2015
Lacy Green
Nashville singer – songwriter performed her own original folk and Americana songs.
August 1, 2015
Cleveland Clinic Band
The Cleveland Clinic Band performed a mix Patriotic and Concert Band classics in celebration of Independence Day
July 11, 2015
Alexi Kenney, Violin
In association with ChamberFest Cleveland violinist Alexi Kenney, who has been called the next Josua Bell, performed Partita No. 2 in A Major by Johann Paul von Westhoff, Violin Sonata in A Major by Franz Schubert, and Violin Sonata in E-flat, Op. 18 by Richard Strauss. Kenney was accompanied by Roman Rabinovich and Orion Weiss on piano.
June 20, 2015
Austin “Walkin” Cane
The great Robert Lockwood Jr. built the Blues tradition in Cleveland and Austin “Walkin” Cane keeps it alive. A 2015 Blues Music Award Nominee for “Best New Artist Album”, Cane brings the delta blues to Cleveland, Ohio.
May 23, 2015
CIM Saturday: CIM Brass Quintet
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our May concert featured the CIM Brass Quintet featured Hayato Tanaka / Dominic Favia, trumpet, Alexandra Fife, horn, Nathan Doucuette, trombone, and Jason Tanksley, tuba.
The Quintet performed Canzona personare No. 2 by Giovanni Gabrieli, Contrapunctus I, from The Art of the Fugue by J.S. Bach, Brass Quintet No. 1 in B flat Major, Op. 5 by Victor Ewald, Second Military Suite in F, Op. 28, No. 2, H. 106 by Gustav Holst, Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa, Selections from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael, That’s a Plenty by Lew Pollack, and El Gato Montés, zarzuella by Manuel Penélla
May 2, 2015
CIM Saturday: Chamber Music
CIM Saturday’s feature various student chamber ensembles from the Cleveland Institute of Music performing at our unique setting. Our April concert featured both a string quartet and a piano quartet. The string quartet performed String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich and featured Ann Yu / Sarah Biagini, violin, Hillary Alleman, viola, Wei An Hung, cello.
The piano quartet performed Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478 by W.A. Mozart and featured Sunny (Xuecong) Xia, violin, John Grigsby, viola, Brendon Phelps, cello, Maria Parrini, piano.
April 4, 2015
Mad Macs
We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a great performance by Mad Macs. They played traditional Irish folk songs that made us feel like we were all kissing the Blarney Stone.
March 14, 2015
Roots of American Music
African-American history month saw the Roots of American Music give an educational program and concert titled “Let’s Get Together”. The program told a story of social change in America from slavery to the civil rights movement through song and captivation presentation.