Marvin Hamlisch Delights
CIM Benefit Enjoyed By All Ages
Walking through the doors of Severance Hall set the stage for the mind-blowing performance yet to come. As we took our tickets and found our seats, the hall echoed the excitement of the audience, creating an exhilarating experience from the start. After the president of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Joel Smirnoff, introduced the school’s orchestra, the applause exploded when Marvin Hamlisch himself walked through the door to the stage. From the first note to the last, the entire concert was an experience that compared to none other put on at Severance Hall. With songs including I Could Have Danced All Night, and The Entertainer, one highlight was a title suggested by an audience member, A Snowy Night in Cleveland, which Hamlisch put to music immediately.
His constant use of jokes and gags filled the night with laughter and kept the energy level high the entire time. Hamlisch’s talent filled out the rest of the hall with awe-struck faces as we all learned about his fascinating childhood and watched how his accomplishments payed off. The addition of four student vocalists added another element, featuring the diversity in talent that can found at CIM.
Rounding out the evening with Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Hamlisch noted that with a song written as well as this one, lyrics were not needed to enjoy it. After the show, many people could be heard reciting their favorite lines Hamlisch said or melodies that had been played. The wait to exit the parking garage was worth it; it gave us more time to try to remember all the amazing musical experiences we had that night. CIM.edu
From Cool Cleveland correspondents Elena & Max Mulready