The Cleveland Orchestra has announced a significant enhancement to its educational programs through a new donation from the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund. This contribution will establish the Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Education Leadership and Internship Endowed Fund, aimed at strengthening the Orchestra’s education leadership team and funding the role of Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Vice President of Education & Community Engagement. Joan Katz Napoli, who has held this position for many years, will continue in her role.
According to an official press release, André Gremillet, President & CEO of The Cleveland Orchestra, emphasized the importance of this gift: “This gift is a powerful reminder that education is at the heart of everything we do at The Cleveland Orchestra. Jane Nord’s extraordinary generosity has helped shape and provide greater accessibility to our education programs for years, and this new investment ensures we can keep inspiring and engaging future generations with excellence and purpose.”
Education has been a cornerstone of The Cleveland Orchestra’s mission for over a century. This commitment was highlighted recently when nearly 10,000 students attended the Music in Motion Education Concerts at Severance Music Center. The concerts featured performances by The Cleveland Orchestra alongside dancers from Cleveland Ballet and Inlet Dance Theatre.
Support for Leadership and Internships
The new funding will also support two additional leadership positions responsible for various educational programs at Severance Music Center, partnerships with schools and universities, digital learning content, adult education offerings, and advocacy initiatives aimed at broadening access to orchestral music. Furthermore, the gift will help establish a paid internship within the education department for college and graduate students pursuing careers in arts education administration.
The Nord family’s commitment to educational access is not new. In 2019, Jane B. Nord established the Education Concert Access Fund, which allows regional students to attend Cleveland Orchestra education concerts free of charge. In 2022, the family launched the Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Education Fund, which provides ongoing support for these concerts and transportation subsidies for Title I schools.
In recognition of her dedication to music education, Jane B. Nord received the Orchestra’s Distinguished Service Award in 2023. This latest funding initiative marks a new chapter in The Cleveland Orchestra’s ongoing commitment to inspiring future generations through music education and community engagement.
