CLEVELAND, OHIO - November 18, 2004 -Because of the upcoming construction project at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleveland International Piano Competition will hold its solo rounds at The Cleveland Play House in the summer of 2005.  The final concerto rounds will be held with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall as they have in the past.

“While the construction project has made it necessary to move our performance venue in 2005, we are pleased that our colleagues at the Institute will soon enjoy expanded facilities,” said Karen Knowlton, executive director of the Competition.   “We are also very pleased that The Cleveland Play House has stepped in to help us maintain the high standards of excellence that our audiences and competitors have enjoyed for the past 30 years.”

Competition staff and officers, along with a team of acoustic, engineering, and recording experts, considered more than 15 sites.  Each was evaluated on a number of criteria, including proximity to University Circle, size, recording facilities, acoustics, and convenience for the audience. The Play House was selected because it met or exceeded all of the criteria used in the evaluation process.   The facilities are spacious and have all the rooms necessary for the audio and video operations.  At 500 seats the Bolton Theater is comparable in size to CIM’s Kulas Hall.  The public spaces are attractive and appealing, and the in-house theatrical lighting will enhance performances.   Audiences will be able to purchase tickets quickly and conveniently through the Play House box office, and will enjoy safe, secure and reasonably priced on-site parking.

CIM President David Cerone issued the following statement: “The Cleveland Institute of Music’s expansion project will begin soon, with north- and south-side excavation and foundation pouring, as well as work on the ventilation and cooling systems, scheduled for next summer.  In order to avoid disruption of the performances, we have recommended that the Competition seek a temporary, alternate primary venue. CIM will continue to provide contestant accommodations in Cutter House, practice facilities in the main building, as well as the technical, engineering, and recording services of our staff.  All of us at CIM appreciate the Competition’s willingness to work around the inconvenience posed by our construction project.  We look forward to completion of the project and to having expanded facilities that will surely enhance our hosting the Cleveland International Piano Competition in 2007.

Michael Bloom, artistic director of The Cleveland Play House added: “We are thrilled that the Cleveland International Piano Competition has chosen The Cleveland Play House as its venue next summer.  The Play House is committed to collaborating with other arts organizations, by providing space, sharing resources, and initiating partnerships that result in new arts programming for our region.  Arts organizations must support one another, and strengthening the arts community is crucial to our city’s economic resurgence.  The Play House is delighted to welcome a new partner to its arts complex.”