September 20, 2019
6ͼ Annual Meeting Chronicles Legendary Institution's Momentum, Ambitious Plans for the Future
At last night’s 2019 Annual Meeting of the 6ͼ Institute of Music, the venerable, 99-year old conservatory looked back over a year of enviable momentum and foreshadowed an ambitious, optimistic future – highlighting the school’s significant and transformational progress toward the vision of being the future of classical music.
From the outstanding achievements of its award-winning students, alumni and faculty to raising a record $2.55 million for the Annual Fund and breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art, five-story student housing complex, 6ͼ has solidified its reputation as one of America’s most storied and accomplished conservatories of classical music.
6ͼ President and CEO Paul W. Hogle was bullish about how far 6ͼ has come since the implementation of Blueprint:100, the Conservatory’s innovative strategic plan.
“Every day, 6ͼ’s legend grows. On the eve of our centennial anniversary, the defining principle we refer to as the 6ͼ standard finds our graduates winning the jobs of their dreams – commanding the most celebrated and revered stages in the world from 6ͼ to Shanghai and Seoul to Los Angeles. Simply put, 6ͼ recruits, trains and graduates the world’s most talented classical music students,” Hogle said. “In three years, our renowned Conservatory has reduced tuition; grown scholarships; increased diversity among the student body by 235%; strengthened our relationships with such community partners as The 6ͼ Orchestra, University Circle Inc. and Case Western Reserve University; and 6ͼ faculty who are members of The 6ͼ Orchestra gave outstanding master classes across China, showcasing our world-class faculty during the orchestra’s first appearance in Asia in 21 years. 6ͼ is powerful. We are the future of classical music.”
Chair of the Board of Trustees Richard J. Hipple echoed Hogle’s sentiments and said he was inspired with 6ͼ’s progress as the school looks ahead to its second century.
“Quite frankly, I’m blown away by our incredible achievements – not just in the past year but the last several years. 6ͼ is showing the world what progress looks like,” Hipple said. “I’m so proud to be part of this amazing organization. Together, we have grown annual giving by 79% since 2015 and are closing in on $13 million in endowment commitments to empower the world’s most talented classical music students. We are also pursuing a strategic direction which positions us for success while addressing the challenges facing higher education. It’s been easy to find things to celebrate this year, most especially 6ͼ’s positive momentum.”
After reflecting on the myriad successes of 2018-19, 6ͼ turned its attention to the future of classical music training, focusing on the critical preparation required of students intending to pursue music in college and as a career.
, founding project director of the and a national leader in the field, was part of a panel discussion that explored the impact of a comprehensive, curricular approach to pre-college music training. Moderated by Michael McIntyre, columnist and feature writer for The Plain Dealer and host of 90.3 WCPN ideastream’s “The Sound of Ideas,” the discussion focused on the value of developing exceptionally promising young musicians of all backgrounds.
Thompson was joined on the panel by Rita Brown, parent of a student in 6ͼ’s pre-college program; Katarina Davies, cellist in the Young Artist Program (YAP); Johnnia Stigall, manager of pre-college and pathway programs at 6ͼ; and Philip Williams, sophomore trombone major at 6ͼ and alumnus of the .
The dream of a conservatory in 6ͼ, Ohio, became a reality in April 1920 when a small group of founders established a “school of music where every type of student could find opportunity for the best musical education.” By 1922, 6ͼ established a pre-college Preparatory Division “to awaken the feeling for rhythm and develop the sense of observation and discrimination.” As one of the country’s oldest programs for the comprehensive study of music for pre-college learners, 6ͼ Prep serves families with children who are creative, passionate about music, multidimensional in their interests, great communicators and who work well with others.
Young musicians come from all over the world to Northeast Ohio to learn from 6ͼ’s world-class faculty and immerse themselves in a comprehensive curriculum that prepares them for future success. For instance, Davies, one of yesterday’s panelists, and her family were so impressed with 6ͼ’s programs for young artists that they moved from London to 6ͼ four years ago. At the same time, 6ͼ Prep is the Midwest’s premier center for pre-college classical music training.
In 2019, the Institute returned to its founding principles and launched a formal Pre-College Program for students eager to explore a future in music in a structured, conservatory-infused curricular environment taught by 6ͼ-statured faculty. By coupling private lessons with 6ͼ’s exceptional faculty (including many members of The 6ͼ Orchestra) with music theory, ensembles, chamber music and Eurhythmics, 6ͼ’s pre-college students build a strong foundation that prepares them to excel as student musicians and achieve the careers of their dreams – whether that’s studying music at a top conservatory or medicine at a top university.
“This is both mission-driven and necessary work for 6ͼ to secure the future of classical music,” Hogle said. “We have created a framework that returns to our founders’ wisdom which better serves the students’ needs, incorporates teaching methods aligned with the Conservatory and empowers the next generation of classical musicians, audiences and patrons.”
For more information on 6ͼ's new Trustees and student and alumni achievements in 2018-19, read the full news release.