The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Cynthia Snider — well known in the community as a fundraiser, media relations professional, and advocate for the arts at our Tuesday, May 19 Club meeting. Ms. Snider has been the Executive Director of Tuesday Musical Association since March 2020. She served as interim director since September 2019. Ms. Snider presented information on the history of Tuesday Musical Association as well as some of the events that will be occurring during the 2022-2023 season.
History of the Tuesday Musical Association:
On November 9, 1887, Celia Baker, wife of George Baker — a prominent businessman who was president of the Akron Electric Light and Power Co. — invited a group of women with “proven musical ability” to her home at 610 E. Market Street, Akron. They named themselves as the "Tuesday Afternoon Club."
For more than 100 years, Tuesday Musical’s members programs were hosted in the city’s stately private homes. Once Gertrude and Frank Seiberling completed their country estate, Stan Hywet Hall, in 1915, it became a favored venue for the club’s activities. Still today, Tuesday Musical’s members meet monthly for performances and refreshments in venues throughout the community, including Stan Hywet Hall.
A few decades after forming, Tuesday Musical expanded its mission to present concerts by world-acclaimed musicians. Global greats over the past 134 years have included such musicians as Leontyne Price, Imani Winds, Van Cliburn, James Galway, Renee Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Beverly Sills, Yo-Yo Ma, and many more.
Tuesday Musical has expanded even more to offer robust education and community engagement programs. Today Tuesday Musical takes nearly all their guest artists beyond the concert stage and throughout NE Ohio to share their talents and inspirations with children and adults of all ages.
Annual Scholarship Program:
Tuesday Musical’s annual scholarship competition is widely recognized as the best of its kind in Ohio. Since starting the competition in 1955 with support from generous donors and volunteers, Tuesday Musical has awarded nearly 700 scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 to talented students embarking on careers as music educators and performers.
Snider joined Tuesday Musical in September 2015 when, after 31 years, she retired from The University of Akron (UA) where she directed communications, community engagement, development, special events, and other initiatives for UA’s programs in the visual and performing arts. She also worked closely with UA’s EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
Concerts:
Each season, Tuesday Musical scans the best of what’s out there and invites a series of artists to create a unique, endlessly enjoyable experience unique to our region.
Balanced between well-known, celebrated names & those that fly under the radar – you’ll enjoy a hand-selected variety of artists, styles, and genres. Plus, they bring you behind the music by letting you get to know the artists.
Free Tickets for All Students
Complimentary Student Ticket Program
Tuesday Musical Association invites all students to attend their concerts at no cost. It’s easy through the ticket voucher program, supported by generous donors. Here's how:
- Receive a ticket voucher through your school, a private music teacher, at the Student Ticket Table the night of the concert or the Tuesday Musical office at 330-761-3460.
- Redeem the voucher at the Student Ticket Table located in the EJ Thomas Hall Ticket Office Lobby on the night of the concert.
BONUS for parents/adult companions: If a parent/adult wants to purchase a reduced-priced companion seat, both the student and the adult should go to the Ticket Window nearest the Student Ticket Table to obtain both the free student ticket and purchase the adult ticket. Parent/adult companion tickets are $15.
To see what concerts are available for the 2022-2023 season, and to learn more about the Tuesday Musical Association check out their website at www.akronconcertseries.org/2022-2023-season and www.tuesdaymusical.org
Yours in Service,
Terry Dalton
Akron Rotary Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
