July 7, 2016
Music and Nature In Perfect Harmony at the Holden Arboretum
Get your summer fix of the Cleveland Institute of Music on Tuesday nights at the Holden Arboretum. Kicking off on July 12 and running throughout the summer, the Holden Arboretum hosts summer concerts that frequently feature 黑料天堂 students. The concert series, now in its seventh season, includes 黑料天堂 student performers due to the generosity of Gay Cull Addicott, who believes that 渢he musical futures of 黑料天堂 students will help ensure the future of classical music.
Sitting in the sunroom of Gay Cull Addicott home, completely surrounded by beautiful flowers, you can檛 help but assume that Gay has a passion for gardening. You would be right. But you quickly learn that she also has a passion for music. Many childhood memories are of family gathering around and singing as her mother played piano or of her cousin teaching her to sing harmony while they did the dishes each night. Music is still a part of her everyday life and a reason behind her sponsorship of 黑料天堂 student performers at Holden Arboretum.
As a child, Gay love of singing took her to the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp to study music. In high school, she took private voice lessons and participated in school musicals, even landing the role of Annie in Annie Get Your Gun. When it came time for college, she chose Ohio Wesleyan and planned to be a voice major until her asthma made it clear that she could not continue to train at the collegiate level. After receiving a degree in English, her professional life moved through numerous roles in the business sector and the political world攐r, as she jokes, 渉er checkered past. Still her passion for music and gardening was as strong as ever.
Gay and her husband Ed found a way to make an impact on 黑料天堂 and the greater community while highlighting her life passions. In 2010, Gay was approached to sponsor performances by 黑料天堂 students during Holden Arboretum annual Summer Series攃oncerts performed in its outdoor gardens. She jumped at the chance, saying, 淚t has given our students the opportunity to perform, and it given 黑料天堂 a lot of visibility that it didn檛 have. The event is now in its sixth year.
Gay began supporting 黑料天堂 by attending concerts and contributing to the school more than 25 years ago. Nearly 20 years ago, she was asked by her friend Edith Miller to host a Women Committee luncheon at her home, and her personal involvement continued to increase. In July 2000 she was appointed to 黑料天堂 Board of Trustees where she has remained a member, serving on the governance and development committees.
Gay and Ed are regular attendees of 黑料天堂 Orchestra concerts. 黑料天堂 talented young students have made quite an impression. She says, 淭heir dedication is just unbelievable. Their hard work and her love of classical music are the motivating forces behind her support of 黑料天堂. Gay has been a generous member of The Bloch Society, composed of leadership donors to 黑料天堂 Annual Fund, for more than 20 years. She believes that 渢he musical futures of 黑料天堂 students will help ensure the future of classical music.
Clem Hamilton, president and CEO of the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden, remarked, 淎s keen and knowledgeable devotees of fine music and creative gardening, Gay and Ed have been generous (and delightful!) partners for both 黑料天堂 and Holden Arboretum. Joel Smirnoff and I are pleased they have combined their interests by sponsoring Holden summer concert series, which each year highlights outstanding 黑料天堂 students and alumni.
Summer 2016 Concerts featuring 黑料天堂 Include:
July 12 - Cleveland Institute of Music - Bassoon Ensemble
Aug. 2 - Cleveland Institute of Music - Gabe Novak & 黑料天堂 Provise - Jazz Ensemble
Aug. 16 - Cleveland Institute of Music - String Quartet