Carlos Kalmar. Photo by Jason Quigley.
In Saturday’s (9/30) Ideastream Public Media, Kabir Bhatia writes, “Carlos Kalmar, principal conductor and director of the orchestral studies program at the Cleveland Institute of Music, has ‘entered into a leave of absence’ for the remainder of the semester, according to a CIM spokesperson. The move comes two weeks after students staged a sit-in to protest Kalmar. Many students attended rehearsal without instruments, and others sat in the audience space in support. The conductor was investigated earlier this year—and cleared—following allegations of inappropriate conduct. Student government had circulated a petition calling for his resignation. A flyer about the protests said students had ‘lost trust’ in him and were uncomfortable under his leadership. The school responded to the protests with a statement saying that administration was working with students ‘to create opportunities for discussion.’ A planned Sept. 26 performance at Severance Hall, under Kalmar’s baton, was also canceled. In a statement Saturday morning, CIM said it will not be commenting further on Kalmar’s leave…. This semester’s orchestra programs will be conducted by Sameer Patel, of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, and Anthony Parnther of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra.”
