On the night of Nov. 25, the Lakewood High School Civic Auditorium didn’t just sound like a concert—it felt like a homecoming. Inside, the sound of electric violins mixed with vintage guitars as 45 musicians prepared for a big task: honoring the legacy of a Cleveland icon.
What began as a “wild idea” pitched to Director Elizabeth Hankins turned into Eric Carmen 50 (EC50). It was a tribute that brought together the classical history of the past and the energy of the future.
The Vision
The Lakewood Project, founded by Hankins in 2002 as the nation’s first high school rock orchestra, was the perfect fit for this event. Twenty-three years later, the group is used to trying new things, but this performance was a different kind of challenge.
Stephen Knill, a 1972 Lakewood graduate who played bass on Carmen’s 1975 solo debut album, emailed Hankins with an ambitious idea: a tribute concert celebrating the record’s 50th anniversary. Hankins agreed immediately.
Real World Experience
For the students, the concert was a lesson in how professional live performances actually work. Carmen’s music mixes complex classical piano with pop hooks. It’s hard to play. It required the students to look up from their sheet music and learn how to play like a real rock band.
Avery Greene, an LHS senior and electric violinist who performs with multiple school groups, described the rehearsals as a crash course in being adaptable.
“You have to vamp things and just keep going…we’ll be on stage, and we have to learn how to nonverbally communicate,” Greene said.
Star Power on Stage
The students weren’t just playing with their classmates; they were playing alongside a “who’s who” of Cleveland rock history.
The Eric Carmen Band featured Musical Director, Rich Spina; Jim Bonfanti, co-founder and original drummer of the Raspberries; Billy Sullivan and Jennifer Lee, veterans of the Raspberries’ reunion tours; and Neil Zaza, world-renowned instrumental guitarist.
Paul Sidoti, best known for touring with Taylor Swift for nearly two decades, traded sold-out stadiums for the LHS auditorium to honor his mentor.
“Because of his classical background, [Carmen] wasn’t stuck to the formula that was regular pop music,” Sidoti said.
Perhaps the most legendary figure in the room wasn’t playing an instrument, but holding a baton. Charlie Calello, the 87-year-old producer and arranger famous for his work with Frank Sinatra and Laura Nyro, flew in to conduct the orchestra—recreating the rich arrangements he originally crafted for Carmen’s albums decades ago.
A Frozen Moment
The setlist covered Carmen’s whole career, from the rock songs of the Raspberries to his solo songs like “Hungry Eyes.” But the most emotional moment reminded the audience that this was also a memorial for the legend, who passed away in 2024.
During a performance of “Love Is All That Matters,” from the 1977 album Boats Against the Current, bass, drums and Mikey Klein’s piano recording, along with the orchestra, highlighted a recording of Carmen’s isolated vocals that filled the room.
The auditorium seemed to freeze. For a moment, the gap between 1975 and 2025 vanished, and Carmen’s voice rang out clearly. It was a beautiful, quiet moment that the audience won’t forget.
Going All the Way
The energy shifted quickly from quiet respect to celebration, proving that the music could still get a crowd going 50 years later.
Stephanie Wahl, a concertgoer, noted the strong emotion in the room.
“With every song it’s like they’re honoring his legacy, and you can really feel it,” Wahl said.
When the final chords faded and the standing ovation settled, the lines between stars and students disappeared. The musicians gathered in the LHS Library Resource Center for an afterparty that felt less like a VIP event and more like a family reunion.
EC50 was more than just a celebration of an album. From the first notes in 1975 to the last on stage in 2025, the music still holds the same power. As the lights dimmed, it was clear that Carmen’s legacy was safe—carried forward by the fans who grew up with him, and by the young musicians who had just discovered his music.
