Big changes coming to Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls thanks to $10 million gift

Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Patrons enjoy the concert from The Cleveland Orchestra on the lawn at Blossom Music Center. (Photo courtesy Roger Mastroianni/Blossom Music Center)
Patrons enjoy the concert from The Cleveland Orchestra on the lawn at Blossom Music Center. (Photo courtesy Roger Mastroianni/Blossom Music Center)

Changes are coming to Blossom.

The Cleveland Orchestra, which owns the concert venue in Cuyahoga Falls, has announced that it has landed a $10 million gift from the Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation.

Plans include the creation of a separate ride share lot for those looking to Uber or be picked up or dropped off at a concert that should help ease some traffic congestion and confusion.

Blossom is the summer home for the orchestra and also the venue for major summer concerts in the region through a partnership with Live Nation.

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André Gremillet, The Cleveland Orchestra’s president and CEO, said some of the funds will be used for immediate improvements and also help map out the future of the concert venue tucked in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

“We are extremely grateful for Milton and Tamar Maltz’s incredible gift,” Gremillet said in a statement. “Blossom Music Center plays an integral role in The Cleveland Orchestra’s history and provides a welcoming environment for music lovers of all ages."

The 200-acre Blossom opened in 1968 and has played host to some 21 million music lovers of genres from classical to rock to country to rap over the years.

Blossom's large pavilion can seat more than 5,000 people under cover and another 15,000 music lovers can sit on the grass for a concert.

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The immediate planned improvements include new Pavilion seating and VIP box upgrades.

Money is also being set aside to improve lighting and signage at Blossom.

“There is nothing more magical than experiencing a live performance alfresco by one of the world’s greatest orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra," said Milton Maltz in a statement. "Seeing all the families sitting on the lawn and enjoying the evening, perhaps attending a classical music concert for the first time, brings (my wife) and me great joy.

“Blossom Music Center is unique with very few comparable venues across the country."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Big changes coming to Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls