Cleveland Women's Orchestra

08/11/2026

Meet our sixth music director, Victor Anstine! 🌟

Eric Benjamin has now officially passed the baton to Victor, an Akron-area local who comes to us after concluding his music directorship with the Akron Pops Orchestra. Also trained as a clarinetist and composer, Victor has conducted engagements in Hungary, Vienna, Austria, Italy, and the U.S.

We are looking forward to working with Victor as we begin our 2026-27 season, starting with our performances of Puccini's La bohème in November (in collaboration with The Cleveland Opera). Stay tuned for further information!

We'd also like to thank Eric once again for his three great years with us and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

📸 by Fotostudio Richard Schuster

07/29/2026

Calling all musicians! The Cleveland Women's Orchestra is holding auditions for our 2026-27 season.

🎻 All instruments welcome with special emphasis on strings, clarinet, French horn, trombone, and harp.

🎶 Why join us? Our exciting 92nd year will feature our annual performance at Severance Hall, a collaboration with The Cleveland Opera, and other special performances out in the community.

📍 Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7:00-10:00 pm at Judson Manor.

⏰ Auditions will be held on August 22 & 29 (Saturdays) from 2:00-5:00 pm at Judson Manor. For more information, please contact our music director, Victor Anstine, at [email protected].

05/10/2026

Feel like reliving our spring concert? 🌸 Check out Daniel Hathaway's review for ClevelandClassical.com.

Highlights include our "exquisite performance" of Ravel's Pavane pour en infant defunte and special recognition for two of our players: Jennifer Ledyard and Anna Shelow. 👏🏻

"CWO has grown artistically during [Eric Benjamin's] two years at the helm, and he leaves the orchestra in good hands for his successor."

🔗 Read the full review here: https://clevelandclassical.com/cleveland-womens-orchestra-at-severance-music-center-apr-19/

04/24/2026

We are still buzzing from our concert this past Sunday! 🎶 Thank you to everyone who joined us at Severance Music Center as we wrapped up our wonderful 91st season. More photos to come!

📸 by Roger Mastroianni

04/18/2026

We've made the weekend lists! Thank you to Ideastream News and Cleveland Magazine for shouting out our concert among the many exciting things you can do this weekend in Cleveland.

🎟️ See you tomorrow afternoon at Severance? Don't forget your tickets: https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/events/cleveland-womens-orchestra

04/17/2026

Thank you to Zachary Lewis and cleveland.com for this feature ahead of our concert on Sunday!

As mentioned in the article, we will soon be saying a fond farewell to our music director Eric Benjamin, who plans to put more energy into his composing career. We will be welcoming Victor Anstine as his successor — a NE Ohio native and the current director of the Akron Pops Orchestra.

Please join us on Sunday to say a big thank you to Eric for three great years with our organization!

Benjamin’s tenure with the CWO pales in terms of length next to predecessors Robert Cronquist and Hyman Schandler, but the impact has still been quite significant.

04/15/2026

It's concert week! Before you come hear us in Severance Hall on Sunday, meet our featured soloist, Angelin Chang.

A Grammy-winning pianist on faculty at Cleveland State University, Angelin will be performing Saint-Saëns' beautiful and virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2.

🎟️ There's still time to get your tickets for April 19 at 3:30 pm! Click here: https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/events/cleveland-womens-orchestra

04/06/2026

Meet composer Sarah Hegenderfer! We are so excited to premiere her piece "Blood Moon" on our April 19 concert.

A composition student at the University of Akron, Sarah creates music with a focus on storytelling and cinematic flair. You may recognize her piece "Clearing of Snow," which the Akron Symphony Orchestra premiered in January.

🎟️ Don't miss this chance to hear her music at our Severance Hall performance! Tickets: https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/events/cleveland-womens-orchestra