The Cleveland Orchestra’s residency program is among the cooler things of an organization that perpetually does cool things, and next year, it’ll be heading to one of Cleveland’s best neighborhoods: Slavic Village.
The origins of the residency program trace back to hot dogs, naturally. Orchestra members began playing at the Happy Dog after flutist Joshua Smith met Sean Watterson from the Happy Dog. That led to a yearlong residency for the orchestra in Gordon Square.
“It was really experimental,” Smith said of the program of music the group played when we chatted with him back in 2013. “We didn’t know if anyone would even listen and we decided to keep it straight-up classical. We also told people that it didn’t matter if they paid attention. We had three hours of material to get through and played until very late.”
Next up was Lakewood, with similar fanfare and results.
Now, Slavic Village.
“The diverse neighborhoods of Broadway Slavic Village are ideal settings for music and celebration,” says Chris Alvarado, executive director of Slavic Village Development, in a press release. “We are thrilled to have been chosen to host the third annual Cleveland Orchestra neighborhood residency. We look forward to welcoming The Cleveland Orchestra and all who believe that music spans cultures and brings joy. Let’s have fun together!”
Updates and dates are to come, but they better damn well be playing a night at The Nash.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2014.
If Slavic Village is one of Cleveland’s “best” neighborhoods Cleveland is in BIG TROUBLE.
I grew up on E 59Th. went to St. Stans Grade School and my first 3 years at Saints High School. It broke my heart when it was announced that the merger would take place. It was a unique neighborhood, everything was there.. Your friends, Morgana Park, Smoron’s corner store, the shoemaker two houses down from my house, my cousins living on the next street over across from my grandparents, Ed Mulich starting the Morgana Little Boys League, softball on Sunday mornings, the Fleet library which everyone walked to, getting my Plain Dealer newspapers at the corner at 5 : 00 to deliver and then going to serve Mas at St. Stan’s at 6:00 before school, telling Mom you were going out and would not be back until dark with her knowing you would be OK because the neighborhood would be your second home…God I miss those times.. I wish my children could have had the same.