8 Questions with Violinist Ariel Clayton

Violinist Ariel Clayton maintains a diverse schedule of performance and education endeavors throughout northeast Ohio. As an independent freelance musician, she gives over 100 performances yearly at major public and private events, within healthcare environments, and as part of her ensemble, OPUS 216.

She collaborates regularly with the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and other renowned institutions to create bridges between music and various disciplines. As a longtime collaborator and current co-organizer of Classical Revolution Cleveland, Ariel also enjoys mixing the music of Bach with a couple of pints of beer in various local establishments, taking the edge off of traditional perceptions of classical music and its aesthetics.

A Texas native with multiple degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ariel is a CLE transplant who’s passionate about her adopted hometown and the endless ways to share music with others. She currently directs the Rainbow Strings violin program in East Cleveland, teaches extensively as a private instructor, and encourages her students to simply love music and give effort in its pursuit.

1. Favorite place to stop and just decompress after a hard day?

Truthfully, my kitchen! I love a great, home cooked meal and glass of wine, but Cleveland obviously has NO shortage of amazing spots for happy hours and good drinks! My two favorite neighborhood bars are The Happy Dog and XYZ, both in Detroit-Shoreway.

2. You’re with a group of friends on a Saturday night and no one can agree on where to go, you take control and suggest?

A motorcycle ride through the Cleveland Metroparks! I love being a passenger on my boyfriend’s motorcycle, and the Metroparks are stunning in the fall when the leaves are turning. We’ve ridden together with other friends and, thankfully, northeast Ohio has a great cycle and motorbike-friendly culture.

3. A friend who’s never been to Cleveland comes to town and wants to see the sights, what’s the first place you want to show them?

I love making University Circle and MLK Blvd one of my first stops with CLE newbies. The Cultural Gardens on MLK have a timeless, European feel, and when I first drove into Cleveland in 2007, the stone bridges and statues on MLK were my own first foggy memories (at 4am!). University Circle’s museums and the Institute of Music are world-renowned and a testament to northeast Ohio’s incredible history and appreciation of the arts.

4. What event, development, idea, trend, etc. that should come to fruition in the next 12 months excites you the most?

Well, I don’t know about trends, but I love all of the neighborhood festivals, outdoor/farmers markets in the summers. I think we can all agree this last winter didn’t mess around, and I think Clevelanders truly know how to appreciate the GREAT summer weather, (i.e. CMA Solstice) and mix it with neighborhood history and culture.

5. Best place to see live music and why?

I have no idea! As a freelancer, I’ve played on nearly every stage in town, and been to quite a few *ahem* non-classical shows as well. I’ve got to say that hearing the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom is always special. But in terms of uniqueness, Alex Tapie and Brian Straw over at Survival Kit Gallery let my quartet create a night of mixed music for an art opening last November and I enjoyed hearing my friends perform in such a beautiful and unique space. I’m always a proponent of thinking outside the box with where and how people can experience music.

6. What about Cleveland is not getting enough press, is underrated?

The independent, classical music scene! People don’t always realize that we literally have one of the top Orchestras in the world here, and people come from across the globe to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Oberlin Conservatory. When you have a city with some of the highest-tiered musical institutions, everything that trickles down is remarkable (ensembles, projects, educational initiatives, etc). My friends and colleagues are truly amazing at what they do…

7. If you could have dinner here in Cleveland with any historical figure, who would it be, where would you go and what would you order?

This may be touchy for some, but I want to have dinner with Jesus of Nazareth. I have a few questions I’d sincerely love to ask. Edwin’s Restaurant & Institute in Shaker Square seems fitting- and we could order whatever the waiter loves the most!

8. You have just been anointed King of Cleveland with an unlimited budget and all encompassing powers, but you only have one day to rule, what do you do?  What do you change, build, tear down, re-envision?

If I had a magic wand, I’d bequeath EVERY available resource and innovative educational concept to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. By that, I mean these kids are literally Cleveland’s future, and CMSD has been fighting an uphill battle with dwindling resources, both financially and in terms of personnel. CMSD kids deserve the same (if not more) state of the art facilities, social service support systems, and passionate educators that I see in neighboring cities and private schools.