Cleveland Classical Guitar Society

What Cleveland Classical Guitar Society does

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society (CCGS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio, that promotes classical guitar through a portfolio of interconnected concert, education, and community programs. Its core offerings include the International Series (a flagship concert program launched in 2009 presenting world-renowned guitarists from 25 countries), the Education Program (launched in 2012, providing free classical guitar instruction, instruments, and curriculum to approximately 100 inner-city Cleveland youth through the Cleveland Metropolitan School District), the Composers-In-Residence Program (49 BIPOC-commissioned works for students since 2021), Creative Fusion video collaborations (including three projects with The Cleveland Orchestra), and community engagement layers such as Open Recitals, Masterclasses, Community and Cleveland Guitar Orchestras, and a free Teacher Directory. The Education Program has produced students who have gone on to the Cleveland School of the Arts, Cleveland Institute of Music fellowships, and Guitar Foundation of America programs.

CCGS's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. Earned revenue comes from concert ticket sales (priced $25-$35 General Admission, with senior/student tiers and 20% season-ticket savings) sold via OvationTix, phone, and at-the-door; Community Guitar Orchestra registration fees ($150 per session, two sessions per year, ten meetings each); and modest fees for select offerings. The dominant revenue stream is philanthropic, including individual donations across eight tiers ranging from Fan ($100-$249) to Maestro ($20,000+), corporate sponsorships (sponsor-a-guitar at $200, student sponsorship at $500, partner school sponsorship at $12,000), and foundation grants from The Cleveland Foundation (Arts Mastery Initiative, Creative Fusion), Ohio Arts Council, and the Augustine Foundation. Go-to-market is event-driven: concerts, school-based education delivery, and community programming promoted through social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram), email newsletter, season brochures, and earned media on CBS This Morning and regional outlets (WKSU, WCPN, WCLV, News 5 Cleveland, Fox 8).

The organization is led by Executive Director Erik Mann (since 2009, also a Cleveland Institute of Music faculty member since 2004) and operates with 1-10 employees including Events Manager Jon Poor (since January 2022) and approximately seven educators plus a teaching assistant. CCGS is one of only six organizations in the Cleveland Foundation's Arts Mastery Initiative and has been recognized with a 2021 Regional Emmy Award for a story produced by Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Technology adoption is limited to standard nonprofit tooling (OvationTix ticketing, Google Forms registration, web/email/social); no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, mobile applications, or API offerings are present.

Name

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society

Legal name

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society

Website

https://cleguitar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio, that promotes classical guitar through the International Series concert program, a free Education Program serving approximately 100 Cleveland youth, BIPOC composer commissions, and community ensembles serving regional audiences, students, and amateur players.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education and Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Classical guitar concerts
• Music education programs
• Community arts nonprofit
• Youth music instruction
• Guitar ensemble programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: CCGS generates revenue through ticket sales for its International Series concerts and other performance events. Tickets are sold online through OvationTix, by phone, and at the door. Pricing varies by event with categories including General, Senior (62+), Student, and Gold Circle.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CCGS accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals. Donation tiers range from Fan ($100-$249) to Maestro ($20,000+). Donors can specify their contribution for specific purposes or give generally. Many employers have matching programs for charitable donations.
3. Guitar Orchestra Registration Fees: The Community Guitar Orchestra charges a $150 registration fee per session. Sessions run twice yearly with ten meetings each, designed for beginning to intermediate guitarists.
4. Sponsorship and Grant Funding: CCGS receives funding from foundations including The Cleveland Foundation (Arts Mastery Initiative, Creative Fusion), Ohio Arts Council, and the Augustine Foundation. Corporate sponsorships are also sought.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes classical guitar through three core program pillars: (1) the International Series of concerts featuring world-renowned classical guitarists, (2) the Education Program delivering free guitar instruction, instruments, and curriculum to Cleveland youth, and (3) community engagement programs including Open Recitals, Masterclasses, Guitar Orchestras, and a Teacher Directory. It supplements these with the Composers-In-Residence Program commissioning BIPOC composers and the Creative Fusion Video Series showcasing collaborative projects.

Product overview

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on classical guitar education and performance. The core offerings include the International Series (flagship concert series), the Education Program (free instruction for Cleveland youth), and various community engagement programs (Open Recitals, Masterclasses, Guitar Orchestras). The Composers-In-Residence Program commissions BIPOC composers to create student-accessible works, while the Creative Fusion Video Series showcases collaborative projects. Together, these programs serve to TEACH (education for Cleveland kids), INSPIRE (world-class performances), and CONNECT (meaningful collaborations between people).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Series

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 students served at no cost in Cleveland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Comité Mexicano de ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for the Creative Fusion video series featuring Mexican music, dance, and culture. Joint presentation of artistic projects including works by Anastasia Sonaranda.
• The Cleveland OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Creative Fusion video collaborations with The Cleveland Orchestra were created, featuring student performances and professional compositions.
• Church of the CovenantminorOthersProvides rehearsal space for the Community Guitar Orchestra at 11205 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH.
• Community of St. Peter ChurchminorOthersProvides performance venue for Community Guitar Orchestra and Open Recitals at 7100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH.
• Cleveland State UniversityminorOthersHost venue for CCGS Spring Student Concerts at Berkmann Auditorium in Berkmann Hall.
• Virtual Guitar Orchestra (VGO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to lead the All-Ohio Virtual Guitar Orchestra with 50 Ohio guitarists from grades 5-12.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Music Settlement: Cleveland-based music education nonprofit offering instruction across instruments and ages; CCGS educator Craig Slagh has taught there. Comparable mission (music education access) and a direct competitor for Cleveland-area music education students and donor dollars.
• St. Louis Classical Guitar Society: Mid-size U.S. classical guitar society presenting concerts and youth education programs in St. Louis. Comparable scale and programmatic mix to CCGS, with similar focus on community education alongside concert series.
• Guitar Foundation of America: National membership organization for classical guitar that runs the most prestigious international competition and a mentorship program in which CCGS students (e.g., Damian Goggans) have participated. Functions as both a peer organization and an upstream pipeline for CCGS's education outcomes.
• Guitar Society of Portland: Pacific Northwest classical guitar society combining concert series, education, and community events. Comparable mid-size peer with overlapping program structure.
• Boston Classical Guitar Society: Direct counterpart operating the same model in Boston: concert presentation, community education, and classical guitar society membership. Closest structural peer to CCGS, with overlapping program design (concert series, education, community engagement).
• New York City Classical Guitar Society: Long-standing classical guitar society presenting concerts, masterclasses, and community programs in the NYC metro. Mirrors CCGS's combination of flagship concert series and education/outreach work, at a larger urban scale.
• San Francisco Classical Guitar Society: Established Bay Area classical guitar society with a comparable programmatic mix of concert presentation and community education. A direct operating peer at the higher end of U.S. regional guitar societies.

Broad incumbents

• Settlement Music School: Large, multi-site U.S. community music school nonprofit providing subsidized instruction across instruments. Broader scope and scale than CCGS, but comparable mission of removing financial barriers to music education, making it a useful reference point for CCGS's potential replication trajectory.
• The Cleveland Orchestra: Major regional incumbent arts institution in Cleveland that CCGS has collaborated with on three Creative Fusion video projects. Operates far broader programming and fundraising scale, and competes with CCGS for the same Cleveland-area arts philanthropy pool.

Regional players

• Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio: Cleveland-area arts-in-education nonprofit placing teaching artists in schools — overlapping with CCGS's in-school education program and competing for the same CMSD partnership and arts-education funding pool in Northeast Ohio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clevelandguitar
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClevelandClassicalGuitar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-classical-guitar-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Classical Guitar Society