Read the article on Cleveland Institute of Music’s Notes quarterly newsletter here.
Inspired Retreat Makes for an Unforgettable Experience
Undergraduate cellist Kyle Price spent his summer cultivating the ultimate artist retreat, the Caroga Lake Music Festival, a festival he launched last year. Utilizing a serene location to inspire artistry and collaboration, Price’s festival sold out to audiences in this Upstate New York venue. In the process, he met Yo-Yo Ma and played an impromptu pre-show performance for the Philadelphia Orchestra. “The mixture of the mountains, lake and playing great chamber music with friends for eager audiences was truly an unforgettable experience,” he explained. The festival ensemble also traveled to perform in Sleepy Hollow (NY) at the Old Dutch Church, made famous by Washington Irvin’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Outreach events included the Gloversville Senior Center, and their own version of “Classical Revolution” at the Nick Stoner Inn 19th Hole Bar in the town of Caroga. “We also got to meet Yo-Yo Ma, and play an impromptu performance of Arensky’s Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky for Keith Lockhart at the pre-show for the Philadelphia Orchestra concert,” Price said. “The local community embraced our performances. We had more than 180 people attend our final concert in the quaint Caroga Chapel, including Philadelphia Orchestra members,” Price continued. “Overall, the experience was surreal. Witnessing the community become so giddy about classical music, treating us like superstars, was very flattering.” Showcasing artists from across the country and Europe, festival participants also included CIM students and alumni violinists Alice Hong and Suliman Tekalli, violist Stephanie Price and cellists Ryan Louie and Julian Muller.