We are privileged to have had his talent, his artistry, his scholarship and his wisdom at CIM for 55 years. During his time as principal percussionist with The Cleveland Orchestra, he traveled the globe and performed on more than recordings.
He had a work ethic that was unmatched and instilled in every one of his students. It is for these reasons that we are thrilled to award an honorary doctor of music degree to Rich and his family. We miss him every day and will always keep Rich and his family in our hearts. Wesley Collins, principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra, will accept the Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes significant professional contributions to their field.
Strommen and Collins will address graduates, students and community members at the annual celebration. Her former students have gone on to careers in orchestras all over the globe. Her career as a performer culminated in a coveted position with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. We are so proud that he was named principal viola with The Cleveland Orchestra in after four years as a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
We look forward to Linda and Wes sharing their advice with our graduates and the community at Honors Convocation. Richard Weiner served as a member of the timpani and percussion faculty woodwinds, brass and percussion division at CIM since Hired by George Szell in , he was appointed principal in and led the section for 43 of his 48 years as a member of the orchestra. In he received The Cleveland Orchestra Distinguished Service Award, presented annually in recognition of extraordinary service to the orchestra.
Paul Chamber Orchestra. In addition to being a former member of the Timm and Lieurance Woodwind Quintets, she has been a regular participant in summer festivals such as the Marlboro, Bellingham, Bard, Le Domaine Forget and Masterworks. Wesley Collins joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal viola with the start of the season. He previously served as a member of the viola section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra beginning in and was promoted to third chair viola there in Collins completed his bachelor of music degree at CIM in May , where he was a student of Robert Vernon, principal viola of The Cleveland Orchestra from to Born and raised in Cincinnati, Collins began studying violin with his mother, Sandy, at the age of four.
