In different words, Michael Sachs, who serves as the principal trumpet player for the Cleveland Orchestra, has stepped down from his roles at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where he was in charge of the brass division and the head of the trumpet department. He attributes his departure to a problematic management culture within the organization.

Here's his message, rephrased:

Many of you may already be aware that I resigned from my positions at The Cleveland Institute of Music, including my role as a faculty member, head of the trumpet department, and chair of the brass division, as of yesterday. I want to clarify some key points, as there may be various rumors circulating:

The decision to resign from CIM was entirely my own.

I was not terminated or asked to leave.

There were no allegations or violations related to Title IX.

My decision to resign after 35 years of service at CIM was prompted by an email I received from the HR department and CIM's legal team yesterday. This email claimed that I had made a statement which I had never actually made. Initially, I thought it might be an error or a joke, but I soon realized it was a serious matter. It seemed from the remainder of the email that they were threatening legal action against me.

Throughout my tenure, I have consistently advocated for moderation, cooperation, and teamwork in all matters involving the faculty and administration. This incident, however, is not the first unfounded attack on my character, reputation, and integrity by members of CIM's administration. Because I cannot tolerate any further baseless attacks, I have made the difficult decision to resign from all positions I held at the Cleveland Institute of Music, effective immediately.

As painful as this decision was, I had to acknowledge that I could no longer be a part of CIM's institutional culture. I will deeply miss my students, and words cannot express how much.

Michael Sachs