The floundering Cleveland Institute of Music has hired Tito Munoz to stand in for two years while it reorganises orchestral teaching. They put a bold face on it in a puffy announcement:
Roll out the red carpet. A celebrated friend is on his way back to the Cleveland Institute of Music.
On Thursday, CIM announced the appointment of Tito Muñoz, former music director of The Phoenix Symphony, as interim principal conductor of the CIM Orchestra. He’ll take up the post next fall and remain through the 2026-27 school year.
That’s not all. In addition to conducting two programs annually and guiding the development of the CIM Orchestra for two years, the acclaimed former assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra will serve as a guest member of CIM’s orchestral studies faculty, lending his vast experience and expertise to coursework and mentoring alongside other CIM faculty and staff.
“I am thrilled to be deepening my strong relationship with CIM,” said Muñoz, who last appeared with the CIM Orchestra in January.
“I’ve had numerous opportunities to work with the wonderful CIM community over my years in Cleveland, and I look forward to spending more time helping lead students in their orchestral studies.”
The feeling is most definitely mutual.
Reviews of the conductor’s Jan. 29 appearance with the orchestra at Severance Music Center – with a program that featured Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, with student soloist Zachary Brandon – were uniformly positive, underscoring the fact that Muñoz is highly regarded by students, faculty, and listeners alike.
As well he should be. Last spring, Muñoz concluded a long, successful tenure as music director of The Phoenix Symphony. Before that, he was a popular assistant conductor with The Cleveland Orchestra (during which time he led the CIM Orchestra as a guest on multiple occasions) and held similar posts with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival.
At CIM, concerts featuring Muñoz will be complemented by programs with other leading guest conductors. Full details of the 2025-26 season will be announced in the fall.
Scott Harrison, CIM’s Executive Vice President & Provost, summarized CIM’s great expectations for Muñoz, describing the conductor as a gifted leader whose skill and long history with top musical organizations worldwide will be invaluable to an ensemble full of aspiring professionals.
Muñoz will do more than tide over CIM Orchestra and the conducting program, Harrison said. He will take it to the next level.
While CIM conducts a national search for a permanent director, Harrison said, Muñoz “will ensure the CIM Orchestra remains a cohesive, high-caliber experience worthy of the CIM Standard.
“Tito is the right musician and educator to work with faculty and administration to ensure an orchestra curriculum that consistently prepares CIM students for the opportunities and rigor of the professional music world.”
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