Kent Blossom Timeline
Selected highlights from the fifty-year span of Kent Blossom. (Names in bold are pictured below the caption.)
1968
The Blossom Festival School is founded at The Cleveland Orchestra’s new summer home, Blossom Music Center
MUSIC
Aaron Copland conducts a Blossom Festival school class
ART
Richard Anuszkiewicz, BS ’56, leader in the op art movement, is the first visiting artist in painting
1969
MUSIC
The documentary Sounds of Summer: The Blossom Music Center with Pierre Boulez is released in August
1970
ART
Alex Katz, visiting artist in painting, holds a life-drawing class
1971
MUSIC
Pierre Boulez rehearses the Blossom Music Festival School orchestra in Ludwig Recital Hall.
THEATRE
Porthouse Theatre is dedicated in July and puts on a production of Idiot’s Delight
1972
ART
Visiting artist Will Hindle hosts a six-day film festival in August at Porthouse Theatre
1974
THEATRE
The Kent State Light Opera Company produces The Mikado, which plays to sold-out audiences
1975
ART
Eells Gallery opens; designed by architect Peter van Dijk, construction was completed in 1974
MUSIC
A 300-member Blossom Festival Chorus performs with The Cleveland Orchestra in Mahler’s “Symphony No. 3” in July and Mendelssohn’s “Witches’ Sabbath” in August
1981
ART
Dale Chihuly visiting artist, glass
1983
THEATRE
Ray Wise, BFA ’69, performs at Porthouse in Man of La Mancha
1985
MUSIC
Emerson String Quartet, visiting artists in residence
1986
ART
Ceramic artist Toshiko Takaezu speaks at the visiting artist lecture series
1991
MUSIC
Josef Gingold, violinist, coaches and rehearses alongside students
1993
THEATRE
Terri Kent and Eric van Baars, MFA ’02, meet on a production of Dames at Sea
2004
MUSIC
The Blossom Festival Band records its first album, under the direction of Loras John Schissel
2013
MUSIC
David Shifrin, clarinet, inaugurates the Kulas Visiting Artist series
2014
ART
Hilary Harnischfeger, visiting artist in sculpture
2016
THEATRE
Colleen Longshaw, BFA ’01, MFA ’15, in Sister Act