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The Interlochen Collection: Pianist Cynthia Raim

Pianist Cynthia Raim's career began when she won the concerto competition at Interlochen's National Music Camp at age nine.

Pianist Cynthia Raim rehearses on the stage of Kresge Auditorium in 1964
Pianist Cynthia Raim rehearses on the stage of Kresge Auditorium in 1964

Pianist Cynthia Raim was just nine years old when she came to camp at Interlochen for the first time in 1961.

Her age was no impediment to her success, though.

She won the concerto competition that summer and performed music of Mozart with the National High School Symphony Orchestra, and then she played the same concerto the following March with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Raim was such an impressive young musician that she began attending Interlochen Arts Academy at the age of 11.

Credit Interlochen Center for the Arts
Pianist Cynthia Raim with Joe Maddy and Van Cliburn in 1963

Raim has gone on to have a remarkable professional career, winning national and international awards, including Switzerland's Clara Haskil International Piano Competition.

This episode includes archival recordings music recorded at Interlochen's National Music Camp as well as commercial recordings from Raim's professional career.

Episode playlist 

Ludwig van Beethoven, Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op. 15, first movement
Cynthia Raim, piano
National High School Broadcast Orchestra
George C. Wilson, conductor
August 1962

Ludwig van Beethoven, Concerto No. 3 in C Minor Op. 37, first movement
Cynthia Raim, piano
National High School Orchestra
Joseph E. Maddy, conductor
July 4, 1963

Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit (selections)
Cynthia Raim, piano

The archival recordings heard on this program are available thanks in part to The Association for Recorded Sound Collections' Classical Music Preservation Grant, generous support from IPR listeners, and the Hamer D. and Phyllis C. Shafer Foundation.

Monica Yost provided production assistance.  
 

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Dr. Amanda Sewell is IPR's music director.