| | Abstract: | The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1938, by three musicians, Irving Klein, Alfred Zetzer, and Robert Zupnick. They envisioned the orchestra as a training ground for young musicians seeking orchestral experience towards future professional careers and as an outlet for talented amateur musicians. F. Karl Grossman, professor of music at Western Reserve University, was the first conductor and music director of the group, serving for 25 years. Affiliated with Western Reserve University in its early years, the orchestra performed at various locations. Later conductors included Zoltan Rozsnyai, Jose Serebrier, Robert Marcellus, John Ross, and William Slocum. In 1973, the orchestra first sponsored the Young Person's Concerto Competition, later renamed the Frieda Schumacher Concerto Competition. The orchestra also extended its outreach into the community, playing concerts for specific ethnic groups at the Bohemian National Hall, for the Polish-American Congress and the Lithuanian community, and at annual Martin Luther King Day concerts held at Cuyahoga Community College. Beginning in 1976, the orchestra performed under the name Cleveland Civic Orchestra, changing its name back to the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra in 1981. Throughout its history, the orchestra performed new works by local composers, including F. Karl Grossman, Leslie Adams, Ernest Miller, Robert Rollin, Daniel Shell, and Peter Ware. It featured soloists such as Josef Gingold, Daniel Majeske, Phil Myers, Eunice Podis, Linda Cerone, Jean Kraft, Richard Weiss, John Mack, Roman Rudnytsky, and many others. The collection consists of individual portraits of conductors, particularly first conductor F. Karl Grossman; and individual and group portraits of soloists, composers, and orchestra personnel, including winners of the annual Frieda Schumacher Concerto Competition. Views include rehearsals and concerts at various venues, particularly during the 1980s. Included are views of concerts at the Sohio Amphitheater of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, annual Martin Luther King Day concerts at the metropolitan campus of Cuyahoga Community College, and miscellaneous concerts. | |
