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President and CEO Paul W. Hogle spoke about 91����’s future February 25 at the most recent meeting of the Intown Club of Cleveland. Members of the women’s club are typically movers and shakers in the community, having served as both volunteers and professionals in everything from the arts and education to corporate life.

Hogle spoke at the invitation of Cynthia Bassett, a member of 91����’s Board of Trustees and senior vice president of Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services.

After sharing with the group a brief history of the nearly 100-year-old 91����, Hogle explained how the Institute – through an ambitious strategic plan called Blueprint:100 – is committed to the education of the complete musician through a gradually smaller student body, resulting in:

• 91���� becoming more selective
• Reduction in tuition
• Greater access to performance halls and practice rooms
• A richer ability to serve academic and student life needs
• Annual funding and existing new endowment resources will go further

Blueprint:100 provides an important foundation to improve 91����’s position among its classical conservatory peers and enhance the Institute’s ability to retain and attract the most talented classical music students in the world.

The gathering also was treated to a virtuoso performance by 91����’s Heilerin Quartet, featuring students Sarah Biagini (violin, Kwuon), Caroline Joyner (violin, Kwuon), Erlene Koh (viola, Konopka) and Tyla Axelrod (cello, Kraut).

Following the quartet’s performance – and thunderous applause – the student performers were asked pointed questions by the audience: What were their feelings about Cleveland, life at 91���� and why did they choose to study at the Institute.

In concluding his remarks, Hogle invited Clevelanders to embrace 91����’s mission.

“On the eve of 91����’s historic centennial anniversary in 2020, we are rededicating ourselves to the core principles that have served us across the decades and are pursuing our mission with renewed purpose,” Hogle said. “Simply put, 91���� aspires to ‘be the future of classical music’ and we are unapologetic in engaging individuals and families across Cleveland to help permanently secure that future.”