CLEVELAND — Blossom Music Center will be receiving some much-needed upgrades thanks to a large donation made to The Cleveland Orchestra.
Officials on Thursday announced a $10 million gift from The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation that will "support improvements and future development" of the orchestra's summer home in Cuyahoga Falls. In return, Blossom's entire 2023 music season will be dedicated to the Maltz family.
Milton Maltz released the following statement:
"There is nothing more magical than experiencing a live performance alfresco by one of the world's greatest orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra. Seeing all the families sitting on the lawn and enjoying the evening, perhaps attending a classical music concert for the first time, brings Tamar and me great joy.
"Blossom Music Center is unique with very few comparable venues across the country. We are not just pleased to provide this gift to help maintain Blossom, but we are also excited that it will enable the Orchestra to take the next step in planning for its future transformation into an even more exceptional asset for Northeast Ohio."
According to the orchestra, immediate renovations will include new pavilion seating, VIP box upgrades, better lighting and signage, and the creation of a new rideshare parking lot. In addition, a portion of the money will also go towards an unspecified "long-term plan aimed at transforming the guest experience at Blossom Music Center, for a refreshed strategic vision of this important venue."
Said Cleveland Orchestra President and CEO André Gremillet:
"We are extremely grateful for Milton and Tamar Maltz's incredible gift. Blossom Music Center plays an integral role in The Cleveland Orchestra's history and provides a welcoming environment for music lovers of all ages. Through this gift, that tradition will continue as we work to enhance this one-of-a-kind venue to exceed the expectations of our guests and expand to new audiences. We are also eternally thankful to Milton and Tamar for their visionary leadership endowment gift to create the Center for Future Audiences in 2011, which has created programs focused on addressing economic and geographic barriers to attending Cleveland Orchestra concerts at Severance and Blossom Music Centers. Milt and Tamar's generosity is simply extraordinary."
Blossom's 2023 season officially kicks off June 1 with Louis Tomlinson, and the orchestra is currently slated to have 14 outdoor shows between July 1 and Sept. 9.