Classically Trained, Unbound by Genre
Founded in 2012 by violinist Ariel Clayton Karas, OPUS 216 has appeared in every major venue in northeast Ohio, from special events at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, to public and private events at Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field, Holden Arboretum, Cleveland History Center, Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and special events for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, among others.
Trained at top-tier conservatories like the world-renowned Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard and others, our musicians make Cleveland their home for its vibrancy, professional development opportunities, arts and culture. When they aren’t performing events with OPUS 216, ensemble musicians perform nationally and internationally, from Lincoln Center in New York City, to subbing with major orchestras, such as the Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and others. Ensemble musicians have performed onstage across the country with everyone from John Legend to Michael Buble, Brian Wilson, Andrea Bocelli, and more.
Equally versed in classical and non-classical styles, OPUS 216 has created a niche experience for high-level performances that can cover any genre, from classical to French café jazz, Top 40, hip hop, South American jazz, Irish fiddle, original music, and improvisation.