Cleveland Repertory Orchestra
2026-2027 Season2026-2027
Concert Schedule
Saturday, September 12, 2026 – 7:00 PM
New Morning: Twenty-Five Years After September 11
Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
Dr. Todd Kitchen, narrator
Location: Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College – Eastern Campus, 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills
Program:
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Howard Hanson: Elegy in Memory of Serge Koussevitzky
Joan Tower: Made in America
Joseph Schwantner: New Morning for the World
Dr. Todd Kitchen, narrator
Dr. Todd Kitchen serves as President of the Eastern Campus at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. A native of rural Missouri, he began his academic journey at Moberly Junior College studying music, later earning a B.S. in Human Resources Management from Friends University, an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Central Missouri, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Dr. Kitchen brings a wealth of experience to higher education, having served in roles such as director of admissions, faculty member, dean, associate vice president for academics, and vice president of student affairs. While in Arkansas, he played a key role in student success initiatives and contributed to the development of the state’s inaugural funding formula strategy.
A recipient of Phi Theta Kappa’s Distinguished College Administrator Award and an Aspen Fellow, Dr. Kitchen is committed to advancing economic mobility and social impact through education. His research interests include leadership, leadership development, and the non-cognitive factors that influence student success. He also mentors aspiring leaders nationwide and has provided executive leadership coaching to Fortune 500 companies.
A proud U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Kitchen served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Tales: Three Folk Traditions
Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
Benjamin Chen, clarinet
Arleigh Savage, basson
Location: Federated Church, 76 Bell St., Chagrin Falls
Program:
Maurice Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
Richard Strauss: Duett-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon
Benjamin Chen, clarinet
Arleigh Savage, bassoon
Carlos Simon: Tales: A Folklore Symphony
Praised by Cleveland Classical for a “wonderfully mind-blowing sound,” clarinetist Ben Chen has forged a career of extensive orchestral experience, chamber music collaboration, and teaching. He currently holds positions with the Erie Philharmonic and Cleveland Pops Orchestra. Ben was previously principal clarinetist of the Youngstown Symphony, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and assistant principal and E-flat clarinetist of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. In addition to his contracted appointments, Ben has appeared in subscription concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, and as guest principal clarinetist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Equally dedicated to chamber music, Ben recently celebrated a decade with the award-winning North Coast Winds quintet. He also presents recitals nationwide as the Edgewater Duo with his husband, pianist Dean Zhang, in addition to frequent festival performances throughout the world. As a clarinet teacher, Ben explores growth in a reflective, empowering way with students. He has served on the faculty in a variety of programs and colleges throughout Northeast Ohio, New England, and given masterclasses in the United States and China.
When not performing, Ben is an oil painter with works shown in juried exhibitions and private collections. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Franklin Cohen, and an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory as a student of Richard Hawkins. In 2027, Ben will graduate with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Baldwin Wallace University.
Bassoonist and Arts Administrator Arleigh Savage is based in Cleveland, Ohio where she is an active orchestral musician, electro-acoustic enthusiast, community organizer, and educator.
Originally from East Lansing, Michigan, Arleigh earned her Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University before moving to Cleveland in 2010 to pursue graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. There, she studied under John Clouser and earned her Master’s degree in 2012.
Currently, Arleigh serves as bassoon faculty at Cleveland State University and is a co-founder of the North Coast Winds, a wind quintet that recently celebrated its 11th season. She is the contracted second bassoonist for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and a regular section player with the Erie Philharmonic and Akron, Canton, and Toledo Symphonies. Her latest project was Sororii, a bassoon/cello duo that blends instruments, voice, and looping pedals to create indie-world music with a focus on sisterhood across cultures. Sororii released their debut album, Esperanza, in 2022 with support from New Music USA.
Arleigh works as the Programs and Events Manager at Heights Arts, a nonprofit gallery and multidisciplinary arts organization, where she brings her passion for live performance and community-centered arts programming. In the summers she co-manages the Ben Franklin Garden Music Series which features local, professional musicians of a wide range of genres from jazz to classical, folk, and more. Now in its sixth season, the series, supported by an all-volunteer team, brings in audiences of 80+ people to the largest community garden in the city to enjoy art and the outdoors.
Saturday, February 20, 2027 – 7:00 PM
Homecoming
Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
Juan Riveros, harp
Location: First Congregational Church of Akron, 292 E. Market St., Akron
Program:
Jennifer Higdon: Harp Concerto
Juan Riveros, harp
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 8
This concert is generously sponsored by First Congregational Church of Akron as part of their Concert Series.
Juan Riveros is one of a new generation of harpists bridging a variety of styles and artistic avenues, building audiences and fostering fresh appreciation for an instrument with ancient and diverse traditions. Riveros was appointed as the Instructor of Harp at Michigan State University in August 2024, serving as a member of the String Area faculty and teaching the College of Music’s harp students. A seasoned soloist, Riveros’ experience includes performances at the Rio Harp Festival (2023-2025), São Paulo Harp Festival, solo recitals through the American Harp Society’s Winner’s Outreach Program, and the 2019 and 2022 USA International Harp Competitions. Accolades include Award Winner in the 2022 Lyon & Healy Awards, Outstanding Instrumentalist in Harp at the 2022 and 2023 Sphinx SOPA Competitions, Award Winner in the 2020 Anne Adams Awards Competition, and Third Prize in the Young Professional Division of the 2019 American Harp Society National Competition.
As a concerto soloist, Riveros won the Grand Prize in the Lewisville Lake International Concerto Competition and performed Ravel and Debussy’s concerti in 2020. In 2022, Riveros premiered Sami Seif’s Harp Concerto, written for and dedicated to the performer. In 2025, Riveros performed Debussy’s Danses with the Flint Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Enrique Diemecke.
Riveros is the newly appointed Principal Harpist of the Detroit Opera Orchestra. Orchestral experience includes performances as Guest Principal Harp with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and symphony orchestras of Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Kalamazoo. Additional engagements include performances as Guest Harp with the Louisville Orchestra and symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Lansing, Saginaw Bay, and Midland. Riveros held the position of Principal Harp with the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra for its inaugural season, performed with the 2018 Round Top Festival Orchestra, and was a member of the 2017 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. During the NYO-USA residency, Riveros recorded Ravel’s Introduction et allegro, debuted at Carnegie Hall, premiered Gabriela Lena-Frank’s, Apu: Tone Poem for Orchestra, and performed on tour across South America.
In addition to his studio at Michigan State University, Riveros maintains an international studio of private harp students in both English and Spanish. In his instruction, Riveros is devoted to crafting constructive approaches to harp pedagogy and performance practice. As the head of the harp department, Riveros is also the Director of MSU Harp Day, a yearly event comprising of masterclasses, a featured workshop, performances, and an attendant-inclusive harp ensemble.
Prior teaching experience includes masterclasses for various American Harp Society chapters, the Glissando Program in Puerto Rico, the Interlochen Arts Academy, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program (TDP), University of Michigan, Colorado State University, and Michigan State University. Classroom experience includes teaching undergraduate sections of music theory at the Cleveland Institute of Music and University of Michigan.
Riveros is currently completing a Ph.D. in Music Theory at the University of Michigan, researching Latin American modernism, musical unity, and hybridity in works by Ginastera, Villa-Lobos, and Chávez. Riveros holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Harp Performance and Music Theory from the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2023, Riveros received an International Postgraduate Certificate in Harp Performance and Research from the National University of the Arts (Argentina). Riveros studied under the tutelage of Alison Read, Joan Raeburn Holland, and Yolanda Kondonassis.
His two published works, “Concert Fantasy on Pajaro Campana” and “Danza No. 1”, are available for purchase through Lyon & Healy (www.harp.com) and Harp Column Music (www.harpcolumn.com/music/).
Riveros serves as the Diversity Coordinator for the American Harp Society (AHS), working with the Society members and leadership to provide representation and resources for the diverse membership of the Society. Additionally, Riveros serves as the Co-Chair of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Committee.
Saturday, April 10, 2027 – 7:00 PM
Dance
Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
Emilio Rosario, clarinet
Location: Rocky River Presbyterian Church, 21750 Detroit Rd., Rocky River
Program:
Jessie Montgomery: Coincident Dances
Oscar Navarro: II Concerto
Emilio Rosario, clarinet
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
This concert is generously sponsored by Rocky River Presbyterian Church as part of their Artist Concert Series.
Emilio Rosario‘s playing has been described as “Beautiful, full sound and sensitive”. He is a part of the Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4 of the American Federation of Musicians and is in high demand across Northeastern Ohio. Emilio performs with a variety of groups such as Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, Suburban Symphony Orchestra, American Musical Productions, Akron Symphonic Winds, Cleveland Winds, and more.
Emilio earned a Professional Studies in Music Performance at Cleveland State University as a graduate assistant of Dr. Ellen Breakfield-Glick where he also received a Master of Music in clarinet performance. He earned his Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance as a scholarship student of Dr. Lynn Musco from Stetson University. When he’s not performing, he is the general music teacher at Orchard STEM School (Cleveland Public Schools), where he teaches PreK through 8th grade and holds a private studio.