Severance Music Center is the concert hall of The Cleveland Orchestra, which has been based here since 1931, and it is regarded as one of the world's most admired concert halls. The Cleveland firm Walker and Weeks designed it, and it was funded largely by a gift of one million dollars from John and Elisabeth Severance. It sits in University Circle, a few minutes from the art museum, and it rewards visitors in two ways. You can hear the orchestra in a concert, with a season of programs and holiday concerts, or you can take a public tour. The tours are led by volunteer guides, run for about an hour and take in the Mandel Concert Hall, the grand foyer, the organ loft, the green room, the galleries and the Reinberger Chamber Hall, with highlights including the 6,025-pipe Norton Memorial Organ and the Elsa Vick Shaw murals.
Tours
The public tours are offered on select Sundays at 11:30am, run in groups of up to 20 people and last about an hour, and they are booked through the orchestra's site by choosing a date and buying tickets. Because dates are limited and spread across the season, plan ahead rather than hoping for a spot, and check the orchestra's tour page for the current list.
The ticket office is closed on Sundays and holidays, so do your booking online or on a weekday. A brass screw set into the terrazzo floor of the grand foyer is one of the details the guides like to point out.
Concerts
A ticket to a performance is the best way to experience the hall, and the orchestra runs a main season, holiday concerts and summer programs. The program and prices change from year to year, so check the calendar when you plan a trip and book early for popular dates. If you want to combine a concert with a stay, University Circle and Little Italy have restaurants within a short walk, and the Glidden House and the Residence Inn are both in the neighborhood.
How it fits a trip
Severance suits music lovers who want a second pillar to a Cleveland weekend beside the Rock Hall, and architecture enthusiasts who like a historic interior. It also gives you a reason to come to University Circle on a Sunday, when many other attractions are closed or quiet.
Pair a tour with the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is free and a short walk away, and a late lunch in Little Italy. If tours do not match your dates, a quick look at the exterior and a stroll across Wade Oval gives you the setting without the booking.
What to expect
The experience
A one-hour guided tour led by a volunteer through the concert hall, foyer, organ loft, green room and galleries, or a seat at an Orchestra concert.
Best time
A Sunday morning on a tour date, or an evening concert during the season.
How long
One hour for the tour, about two hours for a concert evening.
Tips
Book tour dates early because they are limited, and note that the ticket office is closed on Sundays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Classical music fans and anyone who enjoys historic interiors and concert halls.
- Families
- Tours suit older children who can follow an hour of guided commentary, while concerts are better for teens.
- Couples
- Pair a Sunday tour with lunch in Little Italy, or book an evening concert and dinner nearby.
- Pair with
- The Cleveland Museum of Art, Little Italy and the Botanical Garden.
- Time needed
- Two hours for a tour and a walk around Wade Oval.
Good questions
When are the Severance Music Center public tours?+
The orchestra offers public tours on select Sundays at 11:30am. Check its tour page for the current dates.
How long is a tour?+
About one hour, led by a volunteer guide, in groups of up to 20.
What do you see on the tour?+
The Mandel Concert Hall, the grand foyer, the organ loft, the green room, the galleries and the Reinberger Chamber Hall, plus highlights like the Norton Memorial Organ.
How big is the organ?+
The Norton Memorial Organ has 6,025 pipes.
Where do I book?+
Choose a date on the orchestra's tour page and buy tickets there. The ticket office is closed on Sundays and holidays.
