THE ARONSON CELLO FESTIVAL (ACF)

The Aronson Cello Festival (ACF) is named after a teacher who survived unspeakable acts of aggression and violence. Lev Aronson turned darkness into light. Now more than ever, we must continue his journey through our community of fellow artists, colleagues, friends, family members--by supporting those who are vulnerable.

Our team possesses a determination and resolve that is undeniable and inspiring. We hope to have a festival planned soon. We also hope to find a way to make it as meaningful and innovative as what we had planned. Moving forward, we still plan to stage a first-class festival every two years. We look forward to staying in touch and seeing you soon sometime in the near future. Here are some of the ways you can further engage with the Aronson Cello Festival:

Join the dialogue. We’ll be creating special projects, developing new programs, sharing music and learning resources and most of all connecting. As we check our own emotions and establish new routines, it’s an advantage to share information and perspectives. As the NY Times wrote, “Know the facts. Don’t forget we are all in this together.”

Donate. If you are able, we can use your help. Now. This gap will help us create donations of any size. It is crucial for the survival and future of the Aronson Cello Festival (ACF).

Share. Help us get the word out. Now more than ever, we can build for the future by creating programs and figuring out how we can help the most. Lev Aronson lived through the war. He endured unspeakable tragedy. Lately, it has been on our minds what he would have thought and said about what we are experiencing. We are at war with a faceless, raceless enemy. Writing in the Washington Post this week, a retired commander William McRaven wrote: “Neither should we feel hopeless or paralyzed with fear. Hope abounds…make no mistake about it, we will prevail, because the only thing more contagious than a virus is hope.”

And, teamwork.

Thank you to all who have sent your concern, compassion, love and encouragement. You are in our thoughts.

In the end, art endures.

More about the festival honoring Lev Aronson.

In the past year, we recruited and formed a national board of fourteen accomplished leaders in the arts ranging from an associate principal cellist of one of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, to a leading conductor and music director, respected teachers, recording artists, an expert luthier and business mind, photography artists, even an Emmy Award winning storyteller and Harvard MBA.

Over time, the vision has evolved. But, the heart and soul of the rebranded Aronson Cello Festival (ACF) remains. It’s about a teacher and virtuoso cellist named Lev Aronson. Maestro Aronson centered his philosophy of teaching upon vocal qualities of the instrument. His prodigious intellect and mighty heart went beyond the notes and markings on the page. He transformed lives even to this day—decades after his passing.

We honor Maestro Aronson as a survivor of World War II—after enduring incomprehensible suffering in two death camps, Lev Aronson made his way to the United States. Once a student of the legendary Gregor Piatigorsky, Maestro Aronson served as principal cellist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He turned darkness into light. His cello students became a veritable list of who’s who in the cello world. Today, they still carry on his vision of generosity, community and humanity.

One of Mr. Aronson’s last students was the cellist Brian Thornton who founded a festival to honor his teacher. This early proof-of-concept transformed over the past five years into the Aronson Cello Festival (ACF) with the vision of an expert team: “He was an artist who knew how to reach inside a person and gaze into the soul. Like many of his other students, I'm conscious of carrying on his legacy, carrying it with me every day, in my mind and in my heart.”

We are holding our next festival in Cleveland between June 6-12, 2022, at the Cleveland Institute of Music and at Severance Music Center. The events will span seven days and will include special programming filled with memorable performances and world class artists—in addition to innovative and interactive speakers and sessions called “LevTalks” that will inspire, inform, reflect upon, provoke, challenge and confirm the modern world of classical music around us. In this time of rapid change with the arts under siege, we must find ways to connect and embrace our community.

There is still time to get involved. Join us.

Thank you.

Brian Thornton | Founding Artistic Director

Ty Kim | Emeritus Board Chairman and Chief Operating Officer