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24 notable alumni

Notable Alumni of Cleveland Institute of Music

Notable alumni of Cleveland Institute of Music include Jim Hall (American jazz guitarist and composer), Daniil Trifonov (Russian pianist and composer) and David Diamond (Classical music composer).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Arts and media

  • Jim Hall 1930–2013

    American jazz guitarist and composer

  • Daniil Trifonov 1991–

    Russian pianist and composer

  • David Diamond 1915–2005

    Classical music composer

    Music theory · Attended until 1929

    Also attended: University of Rochester

  • Benny Bailey 1924–2005

    Jazz trumpeter

  • Alisa Weilerstein 1982–

    Cellist and 2011 MacArthur Fellow

    Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

    Sibling: Joshua Weilerstein (The New England Conservatory of Music)

  • Jim Brickman 1961–

    Pop pianist and songwriter

    Also attended: Case Western Reserve University

  • Mahani Teave 1983–

    Classical pianist from Easter Island, Chile

  • Ernie Freeman 1922–1981

    Pianist, bandleader and arranger

  • Anton Kuerti 1938–

    Austrian-born Canadian pianist and composer

    Also attended: Longy School of Music of Bard College

  • Judy Niemack 1954–

    Jazz vocalist

  • Hale Smith 1925–2009

    Composer, jazz pianist, and music educator

    Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts · Class of 1952

  • Shelly Berg 1955–

    Jazz pianist, dean of Frost School of Music

    Also attended: University of Houston

  • Ryan Anthony 1969–2020

    Trumpeter, principal trumpet of Dallas Symphony

    Bachelor of Music, Master of Music · Music · Class of 1993

  • Jorja Fleezanis 1952–2022

    Violinist and Indiana University professor

    Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

  • Andy Kubiszewski 1961–

    Musician, songwriter, remixer and producer

  • John Mackey 1973–

    Composer of wind band and orchestral music

    Also attended: The Juilliard School

  • Theodore Kuchar 1960–

    Conductor and violist

  • Donald Erb 1927–2008

    Composer of large orchestral works

    Master of Music

    Also attended: Kent State University at Kent

  • Mildred Miller 1924–2023

    Mezzo-soprano and Metropolitan Opera principal artist

    Also attended: The New England Conservatory of Music

  • Chuck Findley 1947–

    Trumpet player and session musician

  • Greg Pattillo 1977–

    Beatboxing flutist

  • Bross Townsend 1933–2003

    American jazz and blues pianist

  • Video Game Pianist 1986–

    Pianist known as Video Game Pianist

    Also attended: University of Southern California, Yale University

  • Yuriy Oliynyk 1931–2021

    Ukrainian composer and pianist

    Also attended: Case Western Reserve University

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with Cleveland Institute of Music (people who attended both).