Staff Board of Trustees
Music education fosters discipline, perseverance and creativity. It requires collaboration while supporting personal expression. It brings people together. It enriches life. It fosters greater understanding. Skills and behavior associated with music learning transfer into academic success.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district has a proud tradition of excellence in music education. Reaching Heights contributes to the continued success of this community asset through initiatives that:
In 1995 Reaching Heights organized more than 160 alumni of the Heights vocal and instrumental music program to perform in a concert of classical music at Cain Park. The concert, Reaching Notable Heights, drew attention to the school district’s wonderful music tradition, built community, and generated funds for Reaching Heights programs.
World renowned pianist Eunice Podis Weiskopf, a 1938 graduate of Heights High, was the honorary chair for the benefit and the featured soloist. She was joined by musicians who returned home from across the country to perform. The concert ignited community pride and demonstrated the power of music to unite people. The deep loyalty of these returning musicians to our public schools, revealed the life-long impact of the Heights music experience on its graduates.
Reaching Notable Heights was a turning point for Reaching Heights. It made clear that music is a district strength that deserves our attention and support. On June 24, 1995 at the Reaching Notable Heights concert Reaching Heights announced its new focus on music, and dedicated $5,000 from the concert to start the Podis-Weiskopf Music Fund for new music projects in honor of a famed musical couple who met as students at Heights High in the 1930s, pianist Eunice Podis and Suburban Symphony founder, Robert Weiskopf.
Reaching Heights music activities have evolved since that evening. In the early years we supported the purchase of a harp and bassoon for Heights High, ran an instrument donation drive, funded string coaches to work with middle school musicians, helped organize high school musician visits to encourage elementary students to learn an instrument, and supported music lessons offered on Saturdays at the high school. Since 1995 Reaching Heights has awarded Podis-Weiskopf music grants to enrich learning through music.
Today our priority is to encourage students to contribute to the Heights tradition of musical excellence by becoming strong musicians who are motivated to excel. Programs in this area began to expand in 2003 when we produced Reaching Musical Heights, a concert at Severance Hall featuring vocal and instrumental music students from across the school district. The once-in-a-lifetime-experience for students was motivating to them and inspiring to the community. In 2006 we returned to Severance Hall for Reaching Musical Heights- Encore! Proceeds from these events have supported new music opportunities for our students. In 2004 we started the Middle School Honor Band and Orchestra Festival, and in 2005 we launched the Heights Summer Music Camp.
In 2006 we helped organize A Night for Musical Memories, a benefit concert at Cain Park in honor of Vince Patti. The project generated startup funding for the Patti Family Music Lesson Scholarship program that we launched in 2007.
These initiatives exemplify some of the creative ways in which a community support organization like Reaching Heights can extend opportunities for children by marshaling and focusing private resources in partnership with our dedicated educators.
Reaching Heights makes grants and organizes and sponsors special initiatives that support these goals:
These Reaching Heights music initiatives help us reach these goals.
Heights Summer Music Camp
Music immersion is a powerful way to build skills, and motivate student commitment to excel. In 2005 Reaching Heights, in partnership with the school district, started the Heights Summer Music Camp to give 10 to 15 year olds an intensive week of music making and learning. Donations by individual donors ensure that finances do not block students from participating. This annual summer activity extends learning opportunities for young musicians. Click here for highlights of this year’s Heights Summer Music Camp.
Middle School Honor Band and Orchestra Festival
This music enrichment program gives motivated middle school band and orchestra members from the district’s three middle schools the opportunity to participate in all-district honor ensembles. The ensembles rehearse once a week in the evening over an eight week period in preparation for a concert. Click here to learn more.
Patti Family Music Lesson Scholarships
Reaching Heights awards funds donated to honor music educator Vince Patti, to motivated elementary and middle school musicians with financial need, for music lesson scholarships. The fund was started in 2006 and the music lesson scholarship program began in 2007 with scholarships going to 33 students. Click here to learn more about Mr. Patti, the Patti Family Fund, and Patti Famiy Music Lesson Scholarships.
James Bane Jazz Scholarship
Each year Reaching Heights awards a scholarship for private music lessons to a Heights High Jazz Ensemble member who is a leader in the ensemble. The scholarship honors long-time jazz band director and IMD director Jim Bane. The first scholarship was awarded in the spring of 1999 to David Kangas. Click here to learn about scholarship winners.
Podis-Weiskopf Music Grants
Since 1995 Reaching Heights has awarded grants to teachers in the CH-UH schools who want to enrich learning through music. Grants can be used to integrate music into the curriculum, create special music enrichment opportunities for students, or to provide materials and instruments needed for music instruction. Click here to learn more.
A Parent and Student Guide to the Heights Music Program
Reaching Heights created this resource to make parents aware of the music opportunities available to their children and the key decisions that are involved in using the program. Click here to download a PDF version.
Special Concerts
Reaching Heights has produced several concerts to highlight our district’s musical tradition, showcase our talented students, inspire community pride, and generate funds for music and other initiatives. These concerts are great resources for achieving the Reaching Heights mission. Each has been special.
Reaching Musical Heights Encore! Severance Hall, February 26, 2007
A Night For Musical Memories - A Tribute to Vince Patti– Cain Park, July 19, 2006
Reaching Musical Heights– Severance Hall, March 24, 2003
HeightSwings– Cain Park, August 16, 1998
Reaching Notable Heights– Cain Park, June 24, 1995
