I just found out that my orchestra teacher form Lane Technical High School, John Cina died of leukemia this past June. I’m very much in shock from the news. This is what i recently wrote about his influence on me in an article to be published by Polyphonic, the online journal of the Eastman School of Music:

I’ve been lucky enough during the course of my education and career to be trained by demanding and caring instructors and mentors. Three people, however, stand out. My high school orchestra teacher, John Cina, was a man of tremendous talent and ability. He could reduce El Salon Mexico from the full score at the piano and play every instrument in the orchestra with a decent degree of competence. It was in high school orchestra that I first heard Strauss waltzes, Mozart Symphonies and heard about musicians named Reiner, Szell, Dutoit and Blomstedt, conductors who remain among my favorites to this day. He was a throwback to a different era, and I was very fortunate to have had this link to the past teaching me daily how to become a better musician.

Mourning his passing, and so very grateful that I met him. Musical integrity was paramount for him and he instilled that in me, as well. Condolences to Mr. Cina’s family and everyone else close to him.

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