Lisa Goldman is retiring this year after 23 years as Beachwood Orchestra Director and 42 years in music education.

Goldman has enriched countless lives by exposing students to music in and beyond her classroom. 

“[I hope not only] to make amazing musicians but to create a generation of people that are kind and thoughtful to each other and promote teamwork and a culture of learning and helping,” she said.  “Music is a wonderful tool to do that with.”

Freshman Elizabeth Liu speaks for many current and former Beachwood students who have been inspired by Goldman’s teaching.

“[Mrs. Goldman] has always encouraged me to push myself with violin and try [music and platforms] that are harder,” Liu said. “She has also allowed me to play at many different venues that I would’ve never had a chance to experience otherwise.” 

Orchestra teacher Noel DeViney, who has collaborated with Goldman for many years, feels that Beachwood has benefited from Goldman’s contributions. 

“We’ve been very fortunate to have Mrs. Goldman, and her absence will definitely be missed,” DeViney said. “She has laid the foundation for a wonderful program to continue.” 

Apart from many local concerts for celebrations and festivities, Goldman has taken the Beachwood Orchestra on five international tours to European countries including Italy, Spain, England, France and Austria which all hold particular significance in classical music. 

“[My goal is] to show [students] that there is a variety of important cultures in the world, and if we are learning about one for a solid nine years, it’s great to go visit and see how [it’s] developed,” she said.

Students appreciate the exposure to diverse musical influences. 

“Mrs. Goldman has [exposed us to] music from different time periods, different cultures and different genres,” said junior Kimia Adabi, who has been a member of the Beachwood Orchestra since fifth grade. 

“For example, we played music by a group called Black Violin, which was a mix of pop and classical. We play from Christmas carols to ancient Egyptian music, which I find really interesting.” 

Adabi also appreciates how Goldman prepares students rigorously for concerts but also plans fun breakfasts every once in a while. 

Freshman Sophia Yan described the pace of learning in Goldman’s class.

“We learn music note by note and piece by piece every day, but [before] concerts, practices get intense, which is a balanced learning style that I enjoy,” she said.

 “I find orchestra music extremely calming…and playing first thing in the morning always wakes me up and makes me feel less tired,” Adabi said.

Yan appreciates that the orchestra continued practicing and illuminating lives during the gloom of the pandemic, which has allowed them to “bounce back pretty quickly.”

Prior to teaching at Beachwood, Goldman taught stringed instruments in the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cincinnati Conservatory Preparatory Department, the Fairmount Fine Arts Center and the Cleveland School of Arts, where she initiated the orchestra program. 

She has also been  an active freelance violinist, and has played with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Chagrin Valley Studio Orchestra and Hermit Club Orchestra. 

Goldman encourages Beachwood Orchestra members and all aspiring music students to stick with their passion.

“Hang in there and go for it,” she said. 

Goldman recalls struggling academically in K-12 education and was eventually discouraged by her guidance counselor from attending college. Nevertheless, her personal experiences of adversity in institutional learning did not serve as a setback but rather inspired her to find an outlet — music — which ultimately became her passion and propelled her to thrive in the conservatory environment. 

As her own perseverance has carved a path to triumph, she urges her students to embark on the journey of finding their own way to touch hearts. 

Yan plans to pursue orchestra throughout her high school career as Goldman has always emboldened her students’ spirit of self-improvement. She credits a key lesson that she has learned from Goldman’s class:

“If you keep practicing, you can sit in the front seat.” 

Goldman’s retirement isn’t a farewell to her musical legacy, as she plans to continue working for the Beachwood City School District as a fine and performing arts curriculum specialist and liaison with arts organizations in the area.

Goldman says the biggest takeaway of her career in teaching has been the gratification of building enduring relationships with parents and students. 

Many students feel enriched by their experiences in her class as well. 

“She’s always energetic and enthusiastic, which makes her students enthusiastic about music too,” emphasizes Liu.