CLEVELAND— The Cleveland Orchestra is proud to announce a significant step forward in its education vision, made possible by a generous gift from The Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund.
This latest gift creates the Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Education Leadership and Internship Endowed Fund, which supports a robust educational leadership team. It also establishes the Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Vice President of Education & Community Engagement position. Long held by Joan Katz Napoli, this executive-level role embodies The Cleveland Orchestra’s commitment to innovative, learner-centered education practices.
Education has been a fundamental part of The Cleveland Orchestra’s mission since its earliest days, reflecting a century-long tradition of serving schools and the community through extraordinary music experiences. That commitment was highlighted in October during packed Music in Motion Education Concerts at Severance Music Center, welcoming nearly 10,000 students from across Northeast Ohio to immersive performances of orchestral music and dance with The Cleveland Orchestra and special guests from Cleveland Ballet and Inlet Dance Theatre.
“This gift is a powerful reminder that education is at the heart of everything we do at The Cleveland Orchestra,” said André Gremillet, President & CEO. “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.”
“I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Nord for her remarkable and continuous support of The Cleveland Orchestra. Her gift is not just a commitment to music education, it’s a source of inspiration, joy, and opportunity for every child in Northeast Ohio, who will continue to experience live, world-class orchestral music for years to come. Thank you, Mrs. Nord, for believing in the power of music and for believing in The Cleveland Orchestra,” Katz Napoli said.
In addition to endowing an executive-level position, the gift supports two other leadership positions overseeing a range of educational initiatives. These include programs at Severance Music Center, school and university partnerships, digital learning content, adult education, and advocacy efforts aimed at expanding access to orchestral music and strengthening the pipeline to professional musicianship. The gift also establishes a paid internship within the education department, offering college and graduate students an opportunity to gain experience in arts education administration.
This latest act of generosity builds upon the Nord family’s longstanding dedication to music education through The Cleveland Orchestra. In 2019, Jane B. Nord established the Jane B. Nord Education Concert Access Fund, which guarantees that every child in the region can attend a Cleveland Orchestra Education Concert free of charge. Building on this, the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund created the Jane B. and Eric T. Nord Education Fund in 2022 to ensure ongoing support for these concerts in perpetuity, including providing transportation subsidies to help Title I schools access these vital learning experiences.
In 2023, Jane B. Nord received The Cleveland Orchestra’s Distinguished Service Award, which was created in 1996 to recognize exceptional commitment and service to the Orchestra.