The Cleveland Orchestra and Conn-Selmer, Inc. Announce Educational, Artistic Partnership

CLEVELAND (May 15, 2009) – The Cleveland Orchestra and Conn-Selmer, Inc., the internationally respected manufacturer and distributor of band and orchestral instruments, have announced a new partnership.  As educational, artistic, and community partners, Conn-Selmer and The Cleveland Orchestra will collaborate on a variety of programs that support both music education and performance.  Under this new partnership, all six members of the Orchestra’s horn section will be endorsing artists for C.G. Conn French horns. 

Richard King, the Orchestra’s principal horn player and a Conn-Selmer endorsing artist since 1997, has been instrumental as a design consultant for the new C.G. Conn Vintage 8D French horn.  The horn is manufactured at Conn-Selmer’s Eastlake facility just outside of Cleveland in Eastlake, Ohio.

The project was conceptualized during meetings between Richard King and Mike Kamphuis, Conn-Selmer’s director of marketing for French horns.  The opportunity to have King’s fellow colleagues from the section join the Conn-Selmer family as endorsing artists followed, leading to further discussions on ways in which Conn-Selmer could work with The Cleveland Orchestra on potential artistic and educational projects. 

With Conn-Selmer’s Eastlake production facility manufacturing C.G. Conn brass instruments in such close proximity to Cleveland, the idea of a partnership appealed to both organizations as a way to support each others’communities.

Both Conn-Selmer and The Cleveland Orchestra will develop partnership activities expanding on the Orchestra’s educational outreach in Cleveland, Miami, and with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.

“The Cleveland Orchestra is one of our country’s finest musical icons, and it is thrilling to have them as partners,” says Rebecca Weissman, Artist Relations Coordinator for Conn-Selmer.  “Their remarkable offering of educational programs in the schools and throughout the community demonstrates their commitment to enhancing the complete musical experience for all, and I am truly looking forward to our future collaborations.” 

For more information on Conn-Selmer, Inc., please visit www.conn-selmer.com.  The C.G. Conn brand website may be found at www.cgconnhorns.com.  For more about The Cleveland Orchestra, visit www.clevelandorchestra.com.